Comparison of Carbonaceous Compounds Emission from the Co-Combustion of Coal and Waste in Boilers Used in Residential Heating in Poland, Central Europe

Abstract

In this study, the effect of the addition of waste on the emissions from coal co-combustion was investigated. Coal was co-combusted with different additions of medium-density fiberboard and polyethylene terephthalate plastic (10 and 50%), in a low-power boiler (18 W). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phenols, alkylphenols, phthalates, and biomass burning markers emissions were determined. Gas chromatography, coupled with a mass spectrometry detector, was used to analyze these compounds in particulate matter and gas phase, after extraction and derivatization. The emissions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were the highest among all the compounds determined. The total emission of these compounds was 215.1 mg/kg for coal, and 637.7 and 948.3 mg/kg for a 10 and 50% additive of polyethylene terephthalate plastic, respectively. For the 10 and 50% additive of medium-density fiberboard, the total emission was 474.2 and 464.0 mg/kg, respectively. The 50% addition of PET also had the highest emissions of phenols (638.5 mg/kg), alkylphenols (246.5 mg/kg), and phthalates (18.1 mg/kg), except for biomass burning markers, where the emissions were the highest for the 50% addition of medium-density fiberboard (541.3 mg/kg). In our opinion, the obtained results are insufficient for the identification of source apportionment from household heating.

The Application of Statistical Methods in the Construction of a Model for Identifying the Combustion of Waste in Heating Boilers Based on the Elemental Composition of Ashes

“…Eliminating the combustion of waste in household furnaces necessitates the design of rapid, efficient, and cost-effective detection methods to assess such practices. An analysis of the chemical composition of the exhaust gases seems to be the best analytical tool to identify the combustion or co-combustion of waste in individual heating appliances; based on characteristic markers, it is possible to detect the presence of prohibited materials added to the fuel [27][28][29]. Unfortunately, because it is necessary to sample the exhaust gases directly from chimney flues, the method cannot be applied in the case of combusting waste in domestic furnaces, particularly for consolidated chimney flue installations through which exhaust gases generated by various users are released.…”

Comparative Analysis of Combustion of Qualified Composite Fuel for the Transitional Period in the Household and Communal Sector in Poland

“…In the older generation boilers the VOCs do not burn completely and are emitted into the atmosphere, where they condense, creating toxic smog [7]. In addition, incomplete combustion raises significantly the emission of toxic carbon monoxide [8,9]. There are strict regulations on permissible emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere for the currently sold central heating boilers powered by solid fuel.…”