Investigation of NOx precursor compounds and other combustion by-products in the primary combustion zone of a waste-incineration plant using on-line, real-time mass spectrometry and Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR)

Anal Bioanal Chem. 2006 Mar;384(5):1096-106. doi: 10.1007/s00216-005-3340-z. Epub 2005 Oct 21.

Abstract

On-line analysis of trace and bulk gas compounds in the burning chamber of a waste-incineration plant has been performed, with high temporal resolution, by use of a variety of distinctly different measurement techniques. Time-of-flight mass spectrometry was performed with simultaneous use of three ionization techniques-resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI), single-photon ionization (SPI), and electron-impact ionization (EI). Chemical-ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS), Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), and electrochemical methods were also used. Sampling was conducted by means of a newly developed air-cooled stainless steel lance, to cope with the high temperatures and elevated particle concentrations at the sampling location. Nitrogen species were mainly nitrogen monoxide, ammonia, and hydrogen cyanide (HCN), with a small amount (approximately 0.3%) of aromatic nitrogen compounds. NO, NH(3), and HCN are the main contributors to the NO(x)-formation process in the postulated fuel-NO reaction scheme dominant at this location. The NO recycling process thereby plays a major role. Changes in plant operating conditions have a noticeable impact only when the air supply is varied. For example, reduction of oxygen leads to an increase in the HCN fraction of the total nitrogen content and a decrease in the NO fraction, and vice versa.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Incineration*
  • Mass Spectrometry / instrumentation
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods*
  • Nitrogen Oxides / analysis*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / instrumentation
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / methods*
  • Time Factors
  • Waste Products / analysis*

Substances

  • Nitrogen Oxides
  • Waste Products