Polychlorinated Dioxin/Furan Formation in Incinerators

Abstract

Almost any combination of C, H, O, and Cl can yield some polychlorinated dioxins/furans under suitable conditions of time and temperature. The quantities formed in incinerators, ng m⁻³ or ng g⁻¹, need to be explained in terms of time/temperature regimes relevant to those units. Current evidence suggests that surface catalyzed reactions at relatively low temperatures (250-400°C) may play an important role. This paper reviews relevant evidence from incinerators, laboratory combustors, and surface-catalyzed experiments using single precursors. A global kinetic model is proposed and assumptions and parameters are discussed.