Abstract

Formation of chlorinated hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined using a laboratory-scale incinerator when combusting materials at different temperatures, different concentrations of hydrochloric acid (HCl), and when combusting various types of polymers/newspaper. Polychlorobenzenes (PCBz), polychlorophenols (PCPhs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) and their toxic equivalency (TEQ) and PAHs were highlighted and reported. Our results imply maximum formation of chlorinated hydrocarbons at 400 degrees C in the following order; PCBz>or=PCPhs>>PCDFs>PCDDs>TEQ on a parts-per-billion level. Similarly, a maximum concentration of chlorinated hydrocarbons was noticed with an HCl concentration at 1000 ppm with the presence of paraffin powder in the following order; PAHs>PCBz>or=PCPhs>>PCDFs>PCDDs>TEQ an a parts-per-billion level. PAHs were not measured at different temperatures. Elevated PAHs were noticed with different HCl concentrations and paraffin powder combustion (range: 27-32 microg/g). While, different polymers and newspaper combusted, nylon and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) produced the maximum hydrogen cyanide (HCN) concentration, concentrations of PCDD/FS, dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs), and TEQ were in a decreasing order: polyvinylchloride (PVC)<newspaper<polyethyleneterephthalate (PET)< polyethylene (PE)< polypropylene (PP)< ABS = blank. Precursors of PCBs were in a decreasing order: PP<nylon<PE<newspaper<ABS<PVC<blank<PET. Precursors of PCDD/Fs were in a decreasing order: newspaper <PP=nylon<PE<ABS<PVC= blank<PET. BTX formation was in a decreasing order; PE<nylon<newspaper<ABS<PP. PAHs formation were elevated with parts-per-million levels in the decreasing order of PP<nylon<PE<newspaper<blank<ABS< PET<PVC.

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