Studies of the Mechanism for the Formation of Chlorinated Organics during the Combustion of Msw and Coal

were tested in this project. TGA/MSffTIR analyses were performed on the raw materials and their blends, and the combustion profiles collected indicated various types of thermal behavior. The results indicated greater possibilities for the formation of organic compounds during co-finng at fast heating rates than at slow heating rates. Experiments in a tube hrnace showed that molecular chlorine is a key intermediate for the formation of chlorinated organics during the combustion of MSW. A mechanism proposed for the formation of chlorinated organics includes the Deacon Reaction. Experiments conducted using pure organic compounds verified this reaction as a possible pathway. The effect of sulfur dioxide on the formation of molecular chlorine during combustion processes was examined. The results indicate the introduction of SO, does minimize the formation of molecular chlorine and subsequently chlorinated organics. INTRODUCTION The amount of municipal solid waste produced in the United States each year has risen to more than 200 million tons. According to a prediction by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this amount will rise to 216 million tons by the year 2000.' Landfilling, which is the traditional way to deal with this waste, is becoming more and more impractical owing to the rapidly declining availability of landfill space and stricter environmental regulations. Incineration of the MSW is one of the alternative waste management technologies that has some advantages over the conventional methods. However, due to the concern over emissions of hazardous chlorinated organics, especially the harmful polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs), the development of technology for the incineration of MSW has slowed significantly. I Several kinds of coals and the major combustible components in MSW, such PVC and cellulose,