Application of electron beam for the reduction of PCDD/F emission from municipal solid waste incinerators

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 m(3) (N)/h from the municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) at a temperature of 200 degreesC. 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.