Abstract
The incineration of sacrificial offerings generates numerous hazardous air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM), CO, SO2, NOx and non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC), which has significant effects on the environment and human health. However, due to the concealment of sacrificial offerings incineration, the emission of such pollutants has not received sufficient attention. Relevant quantification of the emission, emission factors and pollution control measures for this pollution source are lacking. To address these problems, herein, we quantified the particulate matter and its chemical composition and the emission levels of gaseous pollutants, including SO2, NOx, NMHC and CO, by performing incineration experiments of four typical sacrificial offerings (Joss paper, Funeral wreath, Taoist paper art and Yuanbao paper), and obtained the emission factors and emission characteristics for the incineration of sacrificial offerings. Therefore, this study lays the foundation and provides support for establishing an emission inventory of the air pollutants from the incineration of sacrificial offerings and introducing corresponding pollution control measures. The results show that the emission concentrations of CO and total suspended particulate (TSP) from the incineration of sacrificial offerings greatly exceed the emission standard, with averages of 621.4 mg m−3 and 142.9 mg m−3 at 11% oxygen content, respectively. The average emission factors of SO2, NOx, NMHC, CO, PM10 and PM2.5 for the incineration of the four offerings are (0.47 ± 0.17) kg t−1, (2.46 ± 0.35) kg t−1, (5.78 ± 2.41) kg t−1, (32.40 ± 8.80) kg t−1, (4.23 ± 0.71) kg t−1 and (2.62 ± 0.48) kg t−1, respectively, among which the emission intensities of NMHC and CO are relatively high. Among the different types of sacrificial offerings, the overall average emission factor of air pollutants generated from the incineration of Yuanbao paper is the highest, which is mainly due to the low burning efficiency and the coating material. For the chemical composition of the particulate matters, ions, OC, EC and metal elements account for proportions of the PM2.5 at (23.55 ± 10.37) %, (29.74 ± 9.95) %, (14.83 ± 6.55) % and (13.45 ± 4.88) %, respectively, indicating that the organic pollution is severe
Highlights
As a funeral custom, the incineration of sacrificial offerings is prevalent in China (Figure 1).Because of the large number of deaths, the annual cremations and the quantity of the accompanyingBecause of the large number of deaths, the annual cremations and the quantity of the accompanying incineration of sacrificial offerings are very large
Based on the surveys we did in 19 crematoria, four common and typical sacrificial offerings were chosen for the incineration experiments, namely, Joss paper, Funeral wreath, Taoist paper art and Yuanbao paper (Figure 2)
L min−1 ; t is the sampling time, with a unit of min; EFip represents the emission factor of the particulate matter with a diameter of p from the type i sacrificial offering, with a unit of g kg−1 ; r is the radius of the tunnel, with a unit of m; v is the velocity of the flue gas in the tunnel, with a unit of m s−1 ; mi represents the weight of the type i sacrificial offering, with a unit of kg
Summary
The incineration of sacrificial offerings is prevalent in China (Figure 1). Special incinerators are set up for the incineration of sacrificial offerings, most have not installed flue pollutants are directly discharged to the atmosphere without purification, causing severe impacts gas purification systems. Past research mainly focused on the emissions and concentrations of particulate matters, PAHs and PCDD/Fs from incineration [18,19,20]; investigations of the emission levels and characteristics of other hazardous pollutants (e.g., NMHC) are lacking. These studies are insufficient to ascertain the characteristics of the air pollutants from the incineration of sacrificial offerings. The results could provide a reference and support for the identification of pollution sources and pollution management and control
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