Recent Findings On the Formation and Decomposition of PCDD/PCDF in Municipal Solid Waste Incineration

Abstract

The thermal formation of PCDD/PCDF in fly ashes of refuse incineration plants preferably in the low-temperature region of the boiler at 300°C is fully confirmed. Important parameters for the reaction of formation are the oxygen content and the water vapor in the offgas. Elemental carbon in the fly ash acts as an adsorbent to the precursor compounds. The oxidation of carbon may serve as a basis for the mechanism of PCDD/PCDF formation. Both reactions proceed by the Deacon process scheme. The catalytic action of CuCl 2 can be counteracted by the addition of NH 3 .