Investigation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Methoxyphenols (MPs) from laboratory scale thermal oxidation of waste wood samples

Abstract

In the present study, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Methoxyphenols (MPs) emitted from the low temperature oxidation of the waste wood samples were identified in the laboratory scale small burning system. Four types of waste wood including untreated hardwood (HW), untreated softwood (SW), treated roof material (RM) and treated window frame (WF) were examined during the experiments. XAD-2 adsorbent tubes were used for sampling of the gaseous combustion products. After extraction of the sample tubes, extracts were analyzed by using the Hewlett Packard 6890 GC coupled with Agilent 5971 Mass Selective (MS) Detector. The relative average contributions of the naphthalene, acenaphthylene and retene in hardwood samples were found higher than those measured in softwood. On the contrary, the relative average contribution of the phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene and benzo(b)fluoranthene to the total PAH concentration in softwood samples were obtained higher as compared to hardwood sample. Syringol, 4-methyl syringol, 4 methyl guaiacol, eugenol, properlysyringol, 4-ethylsyringol, syringylacetone and iso-eugenol were found to be most abundant compounds in the hardwood samples. On the other hand, the most observed compounds in the softwood samples were 4-methylguacicol, iso-eugenol, guaiacol, eugenol and vanillin.