Application of Electron Beam for the Reduction of PCDD/F Emission from Municipal Solid Waste Incinerators

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 37; no. 14; pp. 3164 - 3170
• Main Authors: Hirota, Koichi, Hakoda, Teruyuki, Taguchi, Mitsumasa, Takigami, Machiko, Kim, Hyonha, Kojima, Takuji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 15.07.2003
• Subjects: Air Pollution - prevention & control; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Benzofurans - analysis; Combustion and energy production; Costs and Cost Analysis; Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; Dioxins; electron beams; Electrons; Emissions; Environmental impact; Exact sciences and technology; Flue gas; Gases; Hydroxyl Radical - chemistry; Incineration; Municipal solid waste; Oxidants - chemistry; Pollution; Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins - analogs & derivatives; Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins - analysis; Prevention and purification methods; Refuse Disposal - economics; Refuse Disposal - methods; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Waste disposal; Costs; Dioxin derivatives; Urban waste; Chemical degradation; Pollutant emission; Free radical reaction; Incineration plant; Electron irradiation; Chlorine Organic compounds; Solid waste; Reaction mechanism; Air pollution; Physicochemical purification; Oxidation; Pollution abatement; Economic aspect; Flue gas purification
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es021076t

The electron-beam technology was applied to reduce the emission of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) in a flue gas of 1000 m3 N/h from the municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) at a temperature of 200 °C. More than 90% decomposition of PCDD/Fs was obtained using an electron accelerator at a dose of 14 kGy. The decomposition was initiated through reactions with OH radicals produced by the irradiation of flue gases, followed by oxidation such as the ring cleavage of the aromatic ring, the dissociation of ether bond, and dechlorination. The cost analysis estimated that the electron-beam system can cut the annualized cost by approximately 50% for the treatment of PCDD/Fs in a pre-dusted MSWI flue gas as compared with a bag-filter system when operating on electricity generated from an incineration. Electron-beam technology is an economically and technologically useful method for reducing PCDD/Fs in an incineration flue gas.