Characterisation and Estimation of Dioxin and Furan Emissions

0,31

MB

from Waste Incineration Facilities

93

stron

5239

ID

Environment Australia

2001

rok

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 2

LIST OF TABLES 6

LIST OF FIGURES 7

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 8

LIMITATIONS 8

RESULTS 9

NOMENCLATURE 10

INTRODUCTION 13

1.1 BACKGROUND 13

1.2 THE OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE OF THIS REPORT 13

1.3 THE REPORT 14

DIOXINS 15

2.1 DIOXINS 15

2.1.1 Occurrence of Dioxins in the Environment 17

2.1.2 Toxic Equivalency Factors 17

2.2 HEALTH IMPACT OF DIOXINS 19

2.3 FORMATION OF DIOXINS IN INCINERATORS 22

2.4 CATALYSIS 25

2.4.1 De Novo Synthesis from Carbon 26

2.5 DE NOVO SYNTHESIS 26

2.6 PRECURSOR FORMATION OF DIOXINS 28

2.7 CONTROL OF DIOXINS FROM INCINERATORS 29

2.7.1 Restricting Chlorinated Materials 30

2.7.2 Combustion Control 30

2.7.3 Restricting Dioxin Formation 30

2.7.4 Cleansing of Flue Gases after Dioxin Formation 32

INCINERATORS IDENTIFIED WITHIN AUSTRALIA 34

3.1 IDENTIFICATION OF INCINERATORS 34

3.2 AN INCINERATION PROCESS DEFINITION 34

3.3 HOW ARE DIOXINS FORMED? 35

3.4 OTHER FACILITIES NOT DEFINED AS WASTE INCINERATION 36

3.5 WASTE INCINERATION CATEGORIES 36

BIOMEDICAL WASTE INCINERATORS 39

4.1 INTRODUCTION 39

4.2 DESCRIPTION OF BIOMEDICAL WASTES 40

4.2.1 Clinical Wastes 40

4.2.2 Quarantine Wastes 42

4.2.3 Security Documents 43

4.2.4 Illicit Materials and Drugs, Pharmaceuticals, and Miscellaneous Regulated Wastes43

4.3 SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS OF WASTES 43

4.3.1 Calorific Value 44

4.3.2 Moisture Content 44

4.3.3 Glass Content 44

4.3.4 Plastic and PVC and Rubber Content 45

4.4 INCINERATOR EQUIPMENT AND OPERATION 45

4.4.1 Loader and Bin Tippler 46

4.4.2 Primary Chamber 46

4.4.3 Ash Pushers 47

4.4.4 Ash Discharge Conveyor 50

4.4.5 Secondary Chamber 50

4.5 AIR POLLUTION CONTROL SYSTEMS 51

4.6 WET TYPE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL PLANT 52

4.6.1 Heat Exchanger 53

4.6.2 Venturi Quench 54

4.6.3 Venturi Scrubber 54

4.6.4 Fluidised Bed Scrubber 54

4.6.5 Waste Removal from the ‘Wet Type’ System 55

4.6.6 Mist Eliminator 55

4.6.7 Induced Draft Fan 55

4.6.8 Stack with Exhaust Gas Reheat 55

4.7 DRY TYPE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL SYSTEM 56

4.7.1 Introduction 56

4.7.2 Process Description 56

4.7.3 Equipment Description 57

4.7.3.1 Heat Exchanger 57

4.7.3.2 Adiabatic Gas Quench 57

4.7.3.3 Rotary Lime and Activated Carbon Contactor 58

4.7.3.4 Fabric Filter with Pre Cyclone 58

4.7.3.5 Induced Draft Fan 59

4.7.3.6 Stack with Exhaust Gas Reheat 59

4.7.4 Overview of the Major Australian Biomedical Waste Incinerators 59

4.8 COMPARISON OF AIR POLLUTION SYSTEMS 61

4.9 EMISSION QUANTIFICATION 61

4.9.1 Releases to Air 61

4.9.1.1 Methodology 62

4.9.1.2 Australian Emission Estimates 63

4.9.2 Releases to Land and Water 64

4.9.2.1 Determining Activity Data 64

4.9.2.2 Probable Australian Dioxin Emission Estimates for Solid/Liquid Wastes 65

SEWAGE SLUDGE INCINERATORS 67

5.1 INTRODUCTION 67

5.2 PROCESS DESCRIPTION 67

5.2.1 Multiple-Hearth Incinerator 68

5.3 AIR POLLUTION CONTROL SYSTEM 69

5.4 EMISSION QUANTIFICATION 69

5.4.1 Methodology 70

5.4.2 Australian Emission Estimates 70

HAZARDOUS WASTE INCINERATION 71

6.1 INTRODUCTION 71

6.2 WASTE SERVICES NSW – LIDCOMBE LIQUID WASTE PLANT 72

6.2.1 Process Description 72

6.3 EMISSION QUANTIFICATION 74

6.3.1 Methodology 75

6.3.2 Australian Emission Estimates 75

CREMATORIA 76

7.1 PROCESS DESCRIPTION 76

7.2 EMISSIONS DATA 77

7.2.1 US Emission Data 77

7.2.2 UK Emission Data 78

7.2.3 Netherlands Emission Data 78

7.3 AUSTRALIAN ACTIVITY DATA 79

7.4 EMISSION QUANTIFICATION 79

7.4.1 Methodology 79

7.4.2 Australian Emission Estimates 79

LIMITATIONS OF THIS STUDY 81

CONCLUSIONS 82

RECOMMENDATIONS 86

REFERENCES 88