Incineration, polychlorinated biphenyls

SW-846, is used to measure emissions of semivolatile principal organic constituents. Method 0010 is designed to determine destruction and removal efficiency (DRE) of POHCs from incineration systems. The method involves a modification of the EPA Method 5 sampling train and may be used to determine particulate emission rates from stationary sources. The method is applied to semivolatile compounds, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans, polycyclic organic matter, and other semivolatile organic compounds. 

The water insoluble, highly chemically and thermally stable PCBs used as insulating fluids for transformers and capacitors, in paints, copy paper, etc., are extremely toxic, persistent in the environment and bioaccumulating. PCBs are currently destroyed by incineration of concentrates at high temperatures or chemically with sodium metals or organosodium. Both processes are costly. The cathodic reduction/elimination of the chlorine from polychlorinated biphenyl... 

The IT Corporation thermal destruction unit is a mobile unit that uses infrared incineration technology. The main objective of this process is to transform the feedstock into another form (an ash acceptable for delisting) while assuring safe discharge of exhaust gas products to the environment. The unit is capable of on-site remediation of wastes and soils contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other organics. This technology is based on a conveyor belt furnace process. 

Transportable incineration systems (TlSs) are rotary kiln incinerators used for the ex situ treatment of soils, sludges, sediments, liquids, and debris contaminated with heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and other hazardous organic substances. 

The electric infrared incineration technology is a mobile thermal processing system that is suitable for soils or sediments contaminated with organic compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and metals. Liquid organic wastes can be treated after mixing with sand or soil. Electrically powered silicon carbide rods heat organic wastes to combustion temperature while any remaining combustibles are incinerated in an afterburner. 

Nadim, L., Schocken, M.J., Higson, F.J., Gibson, D. T., Bedard, D. L., Bopp, L. H. Mondello, F. J. (1987). Bacterial oxidation of polychlorinated biphenyls. In Proceedings of the 13th Annual Research Symposium on Land Disposal, Remedial Action, Incineration, and Treatment of Hazardous Waste, pp. 395—402. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH (EPA/600/9-87/015). 

Because of the stability of polychlorinated biphenyls, a high-temperature incinerator (1200-1600T) is required to completely decompose them. The incinerator should be equipped with an afterburner and scrubber.1... 

Use of rotary kilns for hazardous waste incineration is becoming more common for disposal of chlorinated hydrocarbons such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Flow in these kilns is cocurrent. Major advantages include high temperature, long residence time, and flexibility to process gas, liquid, solid, or drummed wastes. 

The most relevant problem originating from MSW incineration is flue gas treatment, since untreated incineration flue gas can contain large amounts of macropollutants (e.g., CO, S02, HC1, NOx, particulates) andmicropollutants (e.g., PAHs, mercury compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, furans). The necessity of reducing polluting emissions to levels compatible with existing regulations dictates the adoption of rather sophisticated- and expensive flue gas treatment sections in incineration plants. 

Besides the industrial production of PCNs there is also a release of PCNs to the environment via polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) commercial products, in which PCNs are present as minor contaminants [3], PCNs are also formed in various incineration processes [4, 5] and industrial processes such as the production of magnesium [6], copper [7] and in chloroalkali production [8,9]. PCNs are currently widespread in the environment and are to be regarded as an environmental problem [4]. In general, PCNs are present in biota at ng g 1 levels (on lipid weight basis). High levels (2.4 pgg J) have been reported in e. g., whitetailed sea eagle from Poland [5]. 

Polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are formed as inadvertent by-products in the production and use of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), formerly used as an insulator in electrical transformers and, in combination with polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), in the production of chlorophenols and have been detected as contaminants in these products. PCDFs and PCDDs also may be produced in thermal processes such as incineration and metal processing and in the bleaching of paper pulp with free chlorine. PCDFs are also found in residual waste from the production of vinyl chloride and the chlor-alkali process for chlorine production. The relative amounts of PCDF and PCDD congeners produced... 

Suppose that a landfill site contains PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) as a pollutant and we have to reduce the average concentration of them over the site to below 1%. The effective treatment for PCB contamination is to remove the soil, incinerate it and return it to the site. 

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are mixed with some solids and waste oil for burning in a rotary kiln incinerator. What will happen as the percentage of PCBs is increased in the waste mixture assuming that all other variables (i.e., excess air, heat loss, feed rate) are kept constant ... 

Chlorobiphenyls (CBs) are used widely by industry, including transformers and capacitors in the electrical industry and inks, paints and paper in the printing and allied industries. Unwanted polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) formulations and waste materials containing PCBs are normally incinerated. However, PCBs and waste products containing these materials are inadvertently or illegally disposed of at dump sites and landfill sites. Unsealed PCB sources are leached into the terrestrial and aquatic environment and incomplete combustion vaporises these compounds into the atmosphere therefore, they enter the wider global cycle of trace organic compounds and ubiquitous environmental contaminants that occur in bovine milk, milk powders and products as a result of intake via animal feed. 

Unwanted polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) formulations and waste materials containing PCBs are normally destroyed by high temperature incineration. However, this is a relatively costly method of waste disposal and alternative, but illegal, practices are known to occur, such as dissolving PCBs in waste mineral oil. Unless the oil is chemically analysed for the presence of the CBs it will pass as waste oil which can be... 

Murphy TJ, Pormanski LJ, Brownawell B, et al. 1985. Polychlorinated biphenyl emissions to the atmosphere in the Great Lakes region. Municipal landfills and incinerators. Environ Sci Technol 19 924-946. 

More recently, environmental contamination by chlorinated dioxins and furans released during combustion processes has been recognized. These substances are formed not only during incineration of chlorinated phenols, but also during combustion of materials in home fireplaces and municipal incinerators (10). Chlorinated dioxins and dibenzofurans also are formed during fires involving polychlorinated biphenyls (15). 

Organic contaminants that present a concern to environmental protection include pesticides (used in agriculture), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs, a by-product of incomplete combustion), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, components of coolants and lubricants), phenols (used in the production of plastics and pesticides), dioxins (unwanted by-products of many industrial processes including incineration and chemical manufacturing of phenols, PCBs, and herbicides) and alkyphenols (surfactants in agrochemicals and household cleaning products). 

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