The evaluation of PCDD/Fs from various Korean incinerators

The stack gas samples from municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs), small size incinerators (SIs), a hospital waste incinerator (HWI) and an industrial waste incinerator (IWI) were collected and analyzed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs). The PCDD/Fs emission of MSWIs exhibited a large variation (0.07 36.5 ng I-TEQ/Nm3) and the emission of IWI was the least of all incinerators. The emission factor of small size incinerators was the largest. The PCDD/Fs homologue patterns were similar and the fraction of PCDFs was higher than that of PCDDs. This study shows that PCDD/Fs emission is related to the age of incinerators, CO, and flue gas dust. However, no correlation is observed between PCDD/Fs emission and O2, HCl, and waste composition. It is estimated that approximately 1970 g of ΣPCDD/Fs (41.2 g I-TEQ) are annually released from MSWIs and small size incinerators. Also, 6.6 g of ΣPCDD/Fs (0.1 g I-TEQ) from burning non-chlorinated waste oil and organic solvent are emitted. The PCDD/Fs emission of the small size incinerators is considered as the major point source of PCDD/Fs emission in Korea