Lin-Chi Wang

Emissions of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans from stack flue gases of sinter plants

This study investigated four sinter plants, classified into two categories--with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) (S1, S2 and S3) and without SCR (S4) as its air pollution control device. Polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are dominant in the stack flue gases of sinter plants with and without SCR. The polychlorinated dibenzofurans/polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDFs/PCDDs) ratio exceeds 1 extremely. The degree of chlorination of the sinter plant without SCR is towards hepta and hexa congeners while that of the sinter plant with SCR is towards penta and hexa congeners. PCDD/Fs are indeed decomposed (75.5% and 69% on ng and ng TEQ bases, respectively) and not only reduced in degree of chlorination. The overall concentration in the stack flue gas of sinter plants with SCR (7.97-14.1 ng/Nm(3); 0.995-2.06 ng TEQ/Nm(3)) is lower than that of the sinter plant without SCR (28.9 ng/Nm(3); 3.10 ng TEQ/Nm(3)). In Taiwan, based on the emission factors of 0.970 microg TEQ/ton-feedstock (sinter plants with SCR) and 3.13 microg TEQ/ton-feedstock (sinter plant without SCR), the annual PCDD/F emission of 44.7 g TEQ/year from sinter plants is 60 and 121 times higher than those from municipal solid waste incinerators (0.750 g TEQ/year) and MWIs (0.369 g TEQ/year). These results show that sinter plants have become the dominating PCDD/F emission source since tighter emission limits have been applied to incinerators.

Distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDD/Fs) in municipal solid waste incinerators.

The stack flue gases and the ashes in different units of two municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs) are sampled to investigate the characteristics of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDD/Fs), and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs). Bottom ashes (BA) exhibited much higher PBDD/F (8.11-52.2 pg TEQ/g) and PBDE contents (20.4-186 ng/g) than those of fly ashes (0.0932-2.02 pg TEQ/g and 0.332-25.5 ng/g), revealing that the PBDD/Fs and PBDEs in the feeding waste may not be completely destroyed. The PBDE concentrations/contents in the stack flue gases (26.1-109 ng/Nm(3)) and in the BA (20.4-186 ng/g) of the MSWIs could reach three orders higher than those in the atmosphere and reference soils. PBDE contributions to the environment from the stack flue gases or the reutilization of BA of MSWIs should not be ignored from the developing PBDE inventory.

Effect of chlorine content in feeding wastes of incineration on the emission of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans

This study attempts to clarify the effects of chlorine content in waste on the formation mechanisms of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in full scale incinerators by proposing and using the principal component analysis (PCA) to compare the congener profiles of PCDD/Fs in the stack flue gases of 17 emission sources, including incinerators and vehicles. Four incinerators, among these 17 emission sources, were sampled and analyzed in this study, and the data for the other 13 emission sources were selected from previous studies. These 17 emission sources can be classified into four categories, including medical waste incinerators (MWIs, H1-H5), municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs, M1-M8), vehicle fuel combustion (unleaded gas-fueled vehicles, UGFV; diesel-fueled vehicles, DFV, n = 2) and polyvinylchloride (PVC) facility vent combustors (PVC1 and PVC2, n = 2). PCA was conducted for these emission sources with the fractions of 17 2,3,7,8-congeners in the stack flue gases as variables to clarify the effect of chlorine content in feeding wastes on the emission of PCDD/Fs. From the results of PCA, we extrapolated that the threshold value of the chlorine content was at 0.8-1.1%, and the formation mechanisms of PCDD/Fs are influenced first by whether the chlorine content in the feeding waste is over or below the threshold value then by other factors, which furnaces or APCDs represent. When the chlorine level in the waste is below the threshold value at 0.8-1.1%, the formation of PCDDs dominates, probably because the chlorine is used to chlorinate the non-substituted phenol to produce chlorophenols, which are important precursors for PCDDs. rather than chlorinate the dibenzofuran. While the chlorine level in the waste exceeds this threshold (0.8-1.1%), the rates of formation of PCDFs increase faster than those of PCDDs, probably because the chlorine content in the waste contributes to the deterioration of combustion conditions, and many products of incomplete combustion (PICs) like PAHs, will grow to a substantial level. When PCDD/Fs are formed from PAHs, the formation rates of PCDFs are higher than those of PCDDs.

Characterizing the emissions of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDD/Fs) from metallurgical processes.

This study investigated the characteristics of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDD/Fs) in the stack flue gases of the metallurgical processes. An examination of the PBDEs existing in the stack flue gases of sinter plants revealed that PBDEs can form during the combustion processes through the similar formation conditions of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs). The PBDD/F and PBDE emission rates of the metallurgical facilities were 0.446-3.19 microg TEQ/h and 4470-27000 microg/h, correspondingly. Both emission rates could reach several orders higher than those of the reported sources, revealing that the metallurgical facilities are not only important PCDD/F but also significant PBDD/F and PBDE emission sources to the environment. BDE-209 is the most abundant PBDE congener in the emissions of metallurgical facilities and is found to be dominant in the atmosphere and soils. However, few studies have considered metallurgical facilities as potential PBDE contributors to the environment. Because PBDEs could form or not be completely destroyed in the feeding materials in the combustion system, PBDE contributions from combustion emission sources to the atmosphere should not be ignored and need further investigation.

Emission estimation and congener-specific characterization of polybrominated diphenyl ethers from various stationary and mobile sources

Here we show that combustion sources, including waste incinerators, metallurgical processes, power-heating systems and so on, are also important emitters of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) to the atmosphere. Geometric mean PBDE concentrations in the stack flue gases of the combustion sources ranged from 8.07 to 469 ng/Nm3. The sinter plants (24.7 mg/h), electric arc furnaces (EAFs) (11.3 mg/h) and power plants (50.8 mg/h) possessed the largest PBDE emission rates, which were several orders higher than those of the other reported sources. The occurrences of the PBDEs in the flue gases of the power plants and vehicles, as well as their PBDE concentrations statistically highly correlated with combustion-originated PCDD/Fs, revealing that PBDEs should be the products of combustion. The ranking of major PBDE emission sources in Taiwanese PBDE inventory for combustion sources was power plants (30.85 kg/year), vehicles (14.9 kg/year) and metallurgical processes (5.88 kg/year).

Emissions of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxins and Dibenzofurans from Stack Gases of Electric Arc Furnaces and Secondary Aluminum Smelters

Abstract This study investigates the emissions of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) from four electric arc furnaces (EAFs) and eight secondary aluminum smelters (secondary ALSs) in Taiwan. The mean PCDD/F International-Toxicity Equivalents (I-TEQ) concentrations in the stack gases of these EAFs and secondary ALSs are 0.28 ng I-TEQ/Nm3 (relative standard deviation [RSD = 100%) and 3.3 ng I-TEQ/Nm3 (RSD = 260%), respectively. The high RSDs, especially for those obtained from secondary ALSs, could be caused by the intrinsic differences in their involved feeding materials, furnace operating conditions, and air pollution control devices. The mean I-TEQ emission factor of PCDD/Fs for EAFs (1.8 μg I-TEQ/tonne-feedstock) is lower than that for secondary ALSs (37 μm g I-TEQ/tonne-feedstock). This result might be because the involved furnace temperatures for secondary ALSs (650–750 °C) are lower than those for EAFs (1600–1700 °C), resulting in the deterioration of the combustion condition, leading to the formation of PCDD/Fs during the industrial process. This study found that the total PCDD/F emissions from EAFs (20 g I-TEQ/yr) and secondary ALSs (18 g I-TEQ/yr) are ∼27, 53, and ∼24, 49 times higher than those from municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs; 0.74 g ITEQ/yr) and medical waste incinerators (MWIs; 0.37 g I-TEQ/yr), respectively; while those are 44 and 40% of total PCDD/F emission from sinter plants (45 g I-TEQ/yr), respectively. Considering a more stringent emission limit has been applied to waste incinerators (0.1 ng I-TEQ/Nm3) in Taiwan lately, the results suggest that the control of the emissions from metallurgical processes has become the most important issue for reducing the total PCDD/F emission from industrial sectors to the ambient environment.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in various atmospheric environments of Taiwan: Their levels, source identification and influence of combustion sources

In this study, ambient air samples from different atmospheric environments were examined for both PBDE and PCDD/F characteristics to verify that combustion is a significant PBDE emission source. The mean ± SD atmospheric PBDE concentrations were 165 ± 65.0 pg Nm(-3) in the heavy steel complex area and 93.9 ± 24.5 pg Nm(-3) in the metals complex areas, 4.7 and 2.7 times higher than that (35.3 ± 15.5 pg Nm(-3)) in the urban areas, respectively. The statistically high correlation (r=0.871, p<0.001) found between the atmospheric PBDE and PCDD/F concentrations reveals that the combustion sources are the most likely PBDE emission sources. Correspondence analysis shows the atmospheric PBDEs of the heavy steel and metals complex areas are associated with BDE-209, -203, -207, -208, indicative of combustion source contributions. Furthermore, the PBDEs in urban ambient air experience the influence of the evaporative releases of the commercial penta- and octa-BDE mixtures, as well as combustion source emissions. By comparing the PBDE homologues of indoor air, urban ambient air, and stack flue gases of combustion sources, we found that the lighter brominated PBDEs in urban ambient air were contributed by the indoor air, while their highly brominated ones were from the combustion sources, such as vehicles. The developed source identification measure can be used to clarify possible PBDE sources not only for Taiwanese atmosphere but also for other environmental media in other countries associated with various emission sources in the future.

Effects of biodiesel, engine load and diesel particulate filter on nonvolatile particle number size distributions in heavy-duty diesel engine exhaust

Diesel engine exhaust contains large numbers of submicrometer particles that degrade air quality and human health. This study examines the number emission characteristics of 10-1000 nm nonvolatile particles from a heavy-duty diesel engine, operating with various waste cooking oil biodiesel blends (B2, B10 and B20), engine loads (0%, 25%, 50% and 75%) and a diesel oxidation catalyst plus diesel particulate filter (DOC+DPF) under steady modes. For a given load, the total particle number concentrations (N(TOT)) decrease slightly, while the mode diameters show negligible changes with increasing biodiesel blends. For a given biodiesel blend, both the N(TOT) and mode diameters increase modestly with increasing load of above 25%. The N(TOT) at idle are highest and their size distributions are strongly affected by condensation and possible nucleation of semivolatile materials. Nonvolatile cores of diameters less than 16 nm are only observed at idle mode. The DOC+DPF shows remarkable filtration efficiency for both the core and soot particles, irrespective of the biodiesel blend and engine load under study. The N(TOT) post the DOC+DPF are comparable to typical ambient levels of ≈ 10(4)cm(-3). This implies that, without concurrent reductions of semivolatile materials, the formation of semivolatile nucleation mode particles post the after treatment is highly favored.

Atmospheric dry deposition of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in the vicinity of municipal solid waste incinerators

This study focuses on the atmospheric dry deposition flux of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in the vicinity of the two municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs) located in southern Taiwan. PCDD/Fs in ambient air were taken and analyzed for seventeen 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDD/Fs during November 2004 and July 2005. Results show that the mean concentrations of PCDD/Fs in the ambient air near MSWI-GS and MSWI-RW were 0.090 and 0.097pg I-TEQ/Nm(3), respectively. Dry deposition fluxes of total PCDD/Fs were 18.0 and 23.5pg I-TEQ/(m(2)d) in the ambient air near MSWI-GS and MSWI-RW, respectively, which were considerably higher than that measured in Guangzhou, China. Annual dry deposition fluxes of total PCDD/Fs in the ambient air near MSWI-GS and MSWI-RW were 189 and 217ng/(m(2)year), respectively, which were also much higher than dry deposition of total PCDD/Fs to the Atlantic Ocean. The results of the present study strongly suggest that exposure to PCDD/Fs in this area should be reduced. In addition, parametric sensitivity shows that dry deposition flux of PCDD/Fs is most sensitive to dry deposition velocity of the particle-phase, followed by air temperature and concentration of total suspended particulate but least sensitive to dry deposition velocity of the gas-phase.

PAH Emission from a Gasoline-Powered Engine

Abstract A gasoline powered engine operated on a dynamometer was used to investigate the PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) emission. A 95‐leadfree gasoline (95‐LFG) and a premium leaded gasoline (PLG) were used as power‐fuels. The engine was simulated for the idling condition and for the cruising speeds at 40, 80 and 110 km/hr. The concentrations of 21 individual PAHs in the engine exhaust, gasolines, and the ambient air were determined. Engine exhaust samples were collected by a PAH sampling system, while the ambient air sample was collected by using a standard PS‐1 sampler. Twenty one individual PAHs were analyzed primarily by a gas chromatography/mass spectrometer (GC/MS). Naphthalene (Nap) has the highest concentration in the liquid phase of both 95‐LFG and PLG, in which it accounts for respectively 98.3% and 76.6% of the total PAH. In term of the mean fraction of the total PAHs entering the 95‐LFG and PLG engines, the ambient air contributed less than 0.108% and 0.012%, respectively. Gasoline is...