Combustion Control of PCDD/PCDF Emissions from Municipal Waste Incinerators inNorth America

摘要

The paper discusses combustion control of emissions of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) from municipal waste incinerators in North America. New regulations to control air pollution emissions from municipal waste incineration have been enacted in Canada and are being developed in the U.S. Regulations in both countries will require the use of good combustion practice (GCP). The U.S. EPA defines three goals for their GCP strategy: to maximize furnace destruction of organics, to limit the relative amount of flyash carried from combustors with flue gases, and to operate flyash collection devices at temperatures which minimize the de novo synthesis of PCDD/PCDF. The paper describes the rationale for the GCP strategy, presents data showing the effects of electrostatic precipitator operating temperature on PCDD/PCDF formation rates, and brieflydescribes current North American incinerator design and operating practices which must be changed to reduce formation and emission of PCDD/PCDF.