Emission of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) from Solid Waste Incinerator Equipped with an After-Combustion Chamber

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are typical indicators of incomplete combustion during solid waste incineration. The PAH emissions caused by waste incineration vary according to waste composition and operating parameters such as furnace temperature, after-combustion conditions, excess air, carbon monoxide levels.

In this work, the content of PAH in the fly ashes (sampled upstream the flue gas treatment system) and bottom ashes produced by the combustion of a refuse derived fuel (RDF) in a rotary kiln incinerator equipped with an after-combustion chamber is determined. The emission levels of PAH are correlated with different operating conditions of the incinerator to evaluate the destruction efficiency of the after-combustion chamber for these compounds.

Key Words:

• Solid waste incinerator
• rotary kiln
• after-combustion chamber
• emissions
• fly ashes
• destruction efficiency