Distribution of halogenated phenols including mixed brominated and chlorinated phenols in municipal waste incineration flue gas

Incineration of municipal waste yields a variety of halogenated phenols including chlorinated, brominated and mixed brominated and chlorinated phenols in raw and stack gas. A total of 14 chlorinated, 3 brominated and 31 mixed brominated and chlorinated phenols could be characterized by high resolution gas chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC-HRMS). A significant molar fraction of halogenated phenols in raw and stack gas was found to be monobrominated (12% and 8%) and dibrominated (2% and 1%). The monitored fraction of polyhalogenated phenols can be characterized with an elemental composition of C6H2.6Br0.2Cl3.2O in raw and C6H2.5Br0.1Cl3.4O in stack gas.