Quantitative comparison of de novo and precursor formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins under simulated municipal solid waste incinerator postcombustion conditions

Two pathways have been suggested for polychlorinated dibenzo- p-dioxin (PCDD) formation during municipal-waste incineration: reactions that occur by heterogeneous catalysis on the surface of fly ash particles, and de novo synthesis of PCDD from active carbon particulates. The predominance of either...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 1992-09, Vol.26 (9), p.1822-1828
Main Authors: Dickson, L. C, Lenoir, D, Hutzinger, O
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Atmospheric pollution
Exact sciences and technology
Pollutants physicochemistry study: properties, effects, reactions, transport and distribution
Pollution
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Summary:Two pathways have been suggested for polychlorinated dibenzo- p-dioxin (PCDD) formation during municipal-waste incineration: reactions that occur by heterogeneous catalysis on the surface of fly ash particles, and de novo synthesis of PCDD from active carbon particulates. The predominance of either of the pathways under identical conditions was quantitatively determined in laboratory experiments. The influence of heating time, air flow rate, and temperature on the yields and homologue distribution of the resulting PCDDs was also investigated. Results indicated that the two pathways of PCDD formation operate independently of each other. PCDDs were formed from the model precursor compound pentachlorophenol much faster than from reactions of particulate C in the heterogenous phase under identical conditions. The yields and homologue distributions were influenced by heating time, airflow rate, and temperature.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/es00033a017