Increased PCDD/F formation in the bottom ash from fires of CCA-treated wood

Emerging disposal technologies of harmful phytoextraction biomass (HPB) containing heavy metals: A review

Phytoextraction is an effective approach for remediation of heavy metal (HM) contaminated soil. After the enhancement of phytoextraction efficiency has been systematically investigated and illustrated, the harmless disposal and value-added use of harmful phytoextraction biomass (HPB) become the major issue to be addressed. Therefore, in recent years, a large number of studies have focused on the disposal technologies for HPB, such as composting, enzyme hydrolysis, hydrothermal conversion, phyto-mining, and pyrolysis. The present review introduces their operation process, reaction parameters, economic/ecological advantages, and especially the migration and transformation behavior of HMs/biomass. Since plenty of plants possess comparable extraction abilities for HMs but with discrepancy constitution of biomass, the phytoextraction process should be combined with the disposal of HPB after harvested in the future, and thus a grading handling strategy for HPB is also presented. Hence, this review is significative for disposing of HPB and popularizing phytoextraction technologies.

Thermochemical formation of dioxins promoted by chromium chloride: In situ Cr- and Cl-XAFS analysis

Chromium is commonly found in the flue gases and ashes of Municipal Solid Waste Incineration. It has been reported as an active catalyst for the formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) during de novo tests, yet its specific mode of action has remained unclear. This study aims to identify the effects of chromium chloride on the formation of PCDD/F and other chloro-aromatics and to elucidate the underlying reaction mechanisms. A series of de novo tests, conducted over a wide range of temperature (from 250 to 550 °C) and for four different oxygen contents (0, 5, 10, 20 %), confirmed the promoting effect of CrCl₃ on the PCDD/F formation. In situ X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS) spectroscopy was applied to investigate the behavior of CrCl₃ during heating, describing the entire picture of CrCl₃-promoted formation pathways of dioxins. The effect of oxygen was studied by measuring XAFS spectra on samples heated at different oxygen concentrations. According to these spectra, chromium compounds play two key roles during dioxins formation: (a) chlorinating carbon, using chlorine derived from conversion of CrCl₃ into Cr₂O₃, and further oxidation to Cr(VI), and (b) facilitating oxidative destruction of the carbon matrix, while reducing Cr(VI) to Cr₂O₃.

Characterization of gaseous emissions and ashes from the combustion of furniture waste

Gaseous emissions and ash obtained in the combustion of furniture waste have been studied, with particular emphasis on the emissions of hazardous pollutants, such as PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBS. Two different combustion procedures were carried out, one of them in a conventional residential stove (without an automatic control of combustion air and bad mixing of combustion gases with air), and the other in a laboratory-scale reactor (operating under substoichiometric conditions). Three different experiments were carried out in the residential stove, in which the gaseous emissions and ashes obtained were analysed. The fuel burnt out in two of the experiments was furniture wood waste and in one of the experiments, the fuel burnt out was briquettes composed of a mixture of furniture wood with 10wt.% of polyurethane foam. One of the purposes of these experiments was the evaluation of the possible inhibition effect of the higher nitrogen content on the formation of PCDD/Fs. Slight inhibition of the PCDD/F formation was found although, it is noteworthy that the lowest yield of PAHs, volatile and semi-volatile compounds were obtained in the combustion of these briquettes. In all experiments, the emission factors of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs) were between 29 and 74ng WHO-TEQ/kg sample burnt, lower than that obtained by other authors in the burning of pine needles and cones. PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs emissions from furniture wood waste combustion were also analysed in the laboratory scale reactor at 850°C and the results were compared with the values obtained from the combustion of solid wood (untreated wood). The total equivalent toxicity obtained was 21.1ng WHO-TEQ/kg sample for combustion of furniture wood waste, which is low in comparison with those obtained for other waste combustion in similar conditions. In the laboratory scale reactor, PCDFs were the dominant compounds in the profiles of PCDD/Fs, by contrast, in the combustion in the residential stove, the majority compounds were PCDDs, due to the different operation conditions.

Formation of mixed halogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PXDD/Fs)

This contribution investigates mechanistic and kinetic parameters pertinent to formation of mixed dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PXDD/Fs) from the condensation reactions involving 2-chlorophenoxy (2-CPxy) and 2-bromophenoxy (2-BPxy) radicals. Keto-ether structures act as direct intermediates for the formation of DD, 1-MCDD, 1-MBDD, 1-B,6-CDD and 1-B,9-CDD molecules. Likewise, diketo adducts initiate the formation of 4-MCDF, 4-MBDF and 4-B,6-CDF compounds through interconversion and rearrangement reactions. As formation mechanisms of halogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans from precursors of brominated and chlorinated phenols are insensitive to substitution at meta and para sites, our mechanistic and kinetic analysis of reactions involving 2-BPxy and 2-CPxy should also apply to higher halogenated phenoxy radicals.

Formation of toxic species and precursors of PCDD/F in thermal decomposition of alpha-cypermethrin

This article examines the thermal decomposition of alpha-cypermethrin, one of the most common pyrethroid pesticides. The objective was to identify its decomposition pathways and to gain an understanding into the formation of toxic species in the environment, including those that may behave in combustion systems, especially in fires in the environment, as precursors for PCDD/F (polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans). The experiments were conducted under non-oxidative conditions using a tubular reactor housed in a three-zone heating furnace and operated with a dilute stream of alpha-cypermethrin in 99.999% nitrogen. The condensable products were identified and quantitated, after being collected in a cold solvent trap and in an activated charcoal cartridge. The study revealed the formation of pollutants including precursors of toxic PCDD/F such as diphenyl ether and phenol. It was also found that the decomposition of alpha-cypermethrin involved parallel pathways of an unusual vinylcyclopropane rearrangement-cum-aromatisation reaction transforming alpha-cypermethrin and a rupture of the C(=O)O-C(-C≡N) linkage. The former is similar to that occurring in the decomposition of permethrin pesticide, whereas the latter constitutes a newly discovered channel for the formation of pollutants. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations allowed us to attribute the occurrence of the second pathway to the effect of the cyanide group in significantly weakening the O-C bond.

The reduction of dioxin emissions from the processes of heat and power generation

The first reports that it is possible to emit dioxins from the heat and power generation sector are from the beginning of the 1980s. Detailed research proved that the emission of dioxins might occur during combustion of hard coal, brown coal, and furnace oil as well as coke-oven gas. The emission of dioxins occurs in wood incineration; wood that is clean and understood as biomass; or, in particular, wood waste (polluted). This paper thoroughly discusses the mechanism of dioxin formation in thermal processes, first and foremost in combustion processes. The parameters influencing the quantity of dioxins formed and the dependence of their quantity on the conditions of combustion are highlighted. Furthermore, the methods of reducing dioxin emissions from combustion processes (primary and secondary) are discussed. The most efficacious methods that may find application in the heat and power generation sector are proposed; this is relevant from the point of view of the implementation of the Stockholm Convention resolutions in Poland with regard to persistent organic pollutants.

Review of disposal technologies for chromated copper arsenate (CCA) treated wood waste, with detailed analyses of thermochemical conversion processes

Several alternative methods for the disposal of chromated copper arsenate (CCA) treated wood waste have been studied in the literature, and these methods are reviewed and compared in this paper. Alternative disposal methods include: recycling and recovery, chemical extraction, bioremediation, electrodialytic remediation and thermal destruction. Thermochemical conversion processes are evaluated in detail based on experiments with model compounds as well as experimental and modelling work with CCA treated wood. The latter category includes: determination of the percentage of arsenic volatilised during thermal conversion of CCA treated wood, identification of the mechanisms responsible for arsenic release, modelling of high temperature equilibrium chemistry involved when CCA treated wood is burned, overview of options available for arsenic capture, characterisation of ash resulting from (co-)combustion of CCA treated wood, concerns about polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/F) formation. Finally, the most appropriate thermochemical disposal technology is identified on short term (co-incineration) and on long term (low-temperature pyrolysis or high-temperature gasification).

Assessing influence of experimental parameters on formation of PCDD/F from ash derived from fires of CCA-treated wood

Ash residues from fires of radiata pine timber, both untreated and treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA), were analyzed for the presence of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/F). Fire conditions were simulated using a cone calorimeter. The sensitivity of the magnitude and profile of PCDD/F in the ash under controlled experimental conditions were examined to gain an insight into the formation of PCDD/F in a system containing CCA. The total amount of PCDD/F increased from 2.0 ng/kg of ash (0.05 ng of TE/kg of ash, using WHO-TEF) for untreated radiata pine to a maximum of 2700 ng/kg of ash (78 ng of TE/kg of ash) for 0.94% CCA. Ash containing CCA showed a distinct preference for formation of PCDFs, particularly the tetrachloro homologue. It is concluded that PCDD/F formation predominantly occurred via de novo synthesis during smoldering of the char rather than during the initial flaming and pyrolysis. Furthermore, the composition of the CCA constituents present in the timber was controlled to assess whether the physical presence of Cu, a known catalyst in PCDD/F production, was sufficient to account for the formation of PCDD/F in fires of timber impregnated with CCA.