Emission of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from coal and sewage sludge co-combustion in a drop tube furnace

Waste Manag Res. 2012 Sep;30(9):875-82. doi: 10.1177/0734242X12451309. Epub 2012 Jun 29.

Abstract

The emission characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during coal and sewage sludge co-combustion were investigated in a laboratory-scale drop tube furnace. The experimental results demonstrated that coal and sewage sludge co-combustion was beneficial in reducing PAH emissions and PAH toxic equivalent (TEQ) concentrations. Meanwhile, the five-ring PAHs were the main contributor in reducing the concentration of PAHs and TEQ. Moreover, the two- and five-ring PAH concentrations decreased as the mass fraction of sewage sludge in the mixture increased from 0% to 100%. It was also found that PAHs from coal mono-combustion was dominated by the four- and five-ring PAHs. As for the sewage sludge mono-combustion, the three- and four-ring PAHs were the principal components.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollutants / analysis*
  • Chemical Industry
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Coal / analysis*
  • Incineration
  • Industrial Waste / prevention & control*
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / analysis*
  • Sewage / analysis
  • Sewage / chemistry*

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Coal
  • Industrial Waste
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
  • Sewage