As yet, very little is known about the PCDD/F fate and distribution in the woodchip-fuelled boilers. In this study, the feeding woodchips, stack flue gases and the ashes in different units of a woodchip-fuelled boiler are sampled to investigate their PCDD/F characteristics. The PCDD/F contents in the bottom residues and fly ashes ranged from 18.9 to 66.3 ng I-TEQ/kg, which are below the Taiwanese PCDD/F regulation for reutilization of bottom residues, but still higher than PCDD/F limitations on soils for agricultural use (10 ng I-TEQ/kg), which are adopted by several countries. From the PCDD/F output/input ratios, we found that combustion of woodchips in the boiler system is more favourable for the formations of PCDFs by de novo syntheses, especially for lower chlorinated PCDF congeners. Although about half of the input PCDD/Fs mass are destroyed in the combustion, the output PCDD/Fs toxicity are 6.9 times higher than the inputs. Fly ashes exhibited the highest PCDD/F distributions among the woodchip-fuelled boiler. Still 21.4% of total PCDD/F mass and 18.0% of total PCDD/F toxicity were emitted from the stack flue gases due to the lack of control devices for gaseous phase PCDD/Fs. Decreasing de novo syntheses among the boiler systems, deploying control devices for gaseous phase PCDD/Fs, and proper management on the reutilization of fly ashes will ensure woodchip-fuelled boilers as a sustainable and renewable biomass energy.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.