Possibilities for Reducing CO and TOC Emissions in Thermal Waste Treatment Plants: A Case Study

Janusz Bujak, Piotr Sitarz and Rafał Pasela
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Janusz Bujak: Faculty of Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology in Bydgoszcz, Kaliskiego 7, 85-796 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Piotr Sitarz: PPM PROMONT Bujak Sp. z o.o.—Sp. K., Bydgoszcz, Jagiellońska 35, 85-097 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Rafał Pasela: Faculty of Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology in Bydgoszcz, Kaliskiego 7, 85-796 Bydgoszcz, Poland

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-11

Abstract: The technology of waste-management thermal processing may pose a threat to the natural environment through the emission of harmful substances, such as CO, NOx, SO 2 , HCl, HF, total organic carbon (TOC) and dust, as well as dioxins and furans. Due to the advantages of thermal waste treatment, including the small volume of solid residue produced and possible thermal energy recovery, thermal waste treatment is widely applied. Continuous research is necessary to develop methods for reducing the risk of harmful substances being produced and methods for the effective removal of pollutants resulting from flue gases. This paper presents an analysis of the results and conditions of the experimental redesign of a thermal industrial waste (polypropylene) treatment plant. The purpose of the redesign was to improve the quality of gasification and afterburning processes taking place in the combustion and afterburner chambers (through the installation of an additional section), thus resulting in a reduction in the concentrations of CO and total organic carbon (TOC) in flue gases. The research concerned a facility implementing the combustion process on an industrial scale. The experiment led to a reduction in the average concentrations of carbon monoxide from 16.58 mg/m 3 to 3.23 mg/m 3 and of volatile organic compounds from 2.20 mg/m 3 to 0.99 mg/m 3 . At the same time, no deterioration was observed in any of the remaining technological parameters of the plant, such as waste combustion performance and the energy efficiency of the thermal energy recovery system.

Keywords: waste thermal treatment; flue gas treatment; air pollution; rotary kiln (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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