Catalytic destruction of PCDD/F in a fabric filter: experience at a municipal waste incinerator in Belgium

In order to comply with dioxin and furan (PCDD/F) emission regulations in Belgium, the IVRO municipal waste incinerator adopted catalytic filters for use in the plantʹs two existing fabric filters. This system replaced the injection of powdered activated carbon (PAC) because of concerns that PAC, used at temperatures above 200 °C, would ignite and lead to fires and plant downtime. The performance of the catalytic filter system, since its installation in 1997, is described. PCDD/F emissions are controlled to well below the regulatory limit of 0.1 ng I-TEQ/Nm3. The amount of PCDD/F entering and exiting the fabric filter is quantified. The resulting mass balance shows that greater than 99.5% of the gaseous PCDD/F entering the fabric filter is destroyed by the catalyst within the filter media.