Chemical kinetic modelling of PCDD formation from chlorophenol catalysed by incinerator fly ash

A kinetic model is developed for PCDD formation from chlorophenol catalysed by incinerator fly ash. The key step in the model is a Langmuir–Hinshelwood type elementary step for the coupling of two adsorbed chlorophenol species to PCDD. Kinetic expression is derived which can relate PCDD formation rates with process variables including temperature, precursor concentration, fly ash loading and number of active sites in fly ash. Calculated PCDD formation rates based on this kinetic model are in good agreement with laboratory measurements reported in the literature. When the model is applied to industrial incinerator conditions, at maximum a PCDD yield of 10−3 μg/N m3 is calculated.