Suppression of dioxins by S-N inhibitors in pilot-scale experiments

S-N inhibitors like thiourea and sewage sludge decomposition gases (SDG) are relatively novel dioxins suppressants and their efficiencies are proven in numerous lab-scale experiments. In this study, the suppression effects of both thiourea and SDG on the formation of dioxins are systematically tested in a pilot-scale system, situated at the bypass of a hazardous waste incinerator (HWI). Moreover, a flue gas recirculation system is used to get high dioxin suppression efficiencies. Operating experience shows that this system is capable of stable operation and to keep gaseous suppressant compounds at a high and desirable molar ratio (S + N)/Cl level in the flue gas. The suppression efficiencies of dioxins are investigated in flue gas both without and with addition of S-N inhibitors. A dioxin reduction of more than 80 % is already achieved when the (S + N)/Cl molar ratio is increased to ca. 2.20. When this (S + N)/Cl molar ratio has augmented to 4.18 by applying suppressant recirculation, the residual PCDD/Fs concentration in the flue gas shrank from 1.22 to 0.08 ng I-TEQ/Nm(3). Furthermore, the congener distribution of dioxins is analysed to find some possible explanation or suppression mechanism. In addition, a correlation analysis between (S + N)/Cl molar ratios and PCDD/Fs is also conducted to investigate the chief functional compounds for dioxin suppression.

Suppression of dioxins after the post-combustion zone of MSWIs

Thiourea was selected as representative of combined S- and N-inhibitors and injected after the post-combustion zone of two full-scale municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs) using a dedicated feeder. Firstly, the operating conditions were scrutinised by monitoring the concentrations of SO2, NH3 and HCl in the clean flue gas. The suppression experiment showed that in MSWI A thiourea could reduce the total I-TEQ value in flue gas by 73.4% from 1.41ng I-TEQ/Nm(3) to 0.37I-TEQ/Nm(3), those in fly ash by 87.1% from 14.3ng I-TEQ/g to 1.84I-TEQ/g and the total dioxins emission factor by 87.0wt.%, with a (S+N)/Cl molar ratio of 9.4. The suppression efficiencies of PCDD/Fs in flue gas and fly ash in MSWI B could be up to 69.2% and 83.0% when the (S+N)/Cl molar ratio attained 7.51. Furthermore, the congener distributions of dioxins were also analysed in the flue gas and fly ash, before and after addition of thiourea, to find cues to some suppression mechanism. In addition, the filtered fly ash was explored by the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) analysis of fly ash. These results suggest that poisoning the metal catalyst and blocking the chlorination are most probably responsible for suppression.