Characterization and mass balance of PCDD/Fs during the co-combustion of sewage sludge in a grate-type municipal solid waste incineration

The emission and distribution characteristics of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) were investigated during the co-combustion of sewage sludge (SS) with municipal solid waste (MSW) in a grate-type furnace, South China. On the output side, the stack gas, slag and fly ash with the dioxin levels of 10.75 pg I-TEQ/Nm(3), 4.98 pg I-TEQ/g and 294.9 pg I-TEQ/g, respectively, showed similarities in congener profiles. However, the input side presented a significantly different congener profiles compared to that in the output side, which may attribute to the de novo synthesis. The predominant PCDD/Fs contribution (>90%) in fly ash suggested it as the major sink of dioxins in the output side. A positive mass balance of PCDD/Fs with the value of 12.09 mu g I-TEQ/t-MF was demonstrated. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V.