Influence of elemental sulfur on the de-novo-synthesis of organochlorine compounds from residual carbon on fly ash

Thermal experiments between 300°C and 500°C were performed with fly ash of a municipal waste incineration plant which had been spiked with elemental sulfur. The influence of elemental sulfur on the heterogeneous carbon-decomposition and the de-novo-synthesis of polychlorinated compounds was investigated. Compounds such as polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, dibenzofurans, benzenes, benzo- and dibenzothiophenes, Cl4-thiophene, Cl4-thienothiophene, Cl7- and Cl8-phenylthiophene were quantified. Apart from those, other intermediate structures were determined. These compounds are mainly aromatics with a vinyl- or butadienyl-group, stabilized by perchlorination. In detail, the compounds are Cl7- and C18-styrene, C110-vinylnaphthalenes, Cl10-phenylbutadiene, C110-octatetraene, C110-bis-butadienylsulfides and Cl12-stilbenes.