Destruction of the flame retardant hexabromocyclododecane in a full-scale municipal solid waste incinerator

Abstract

Hexabromocyclododecane containing polystyrene foam obtained from the building and construction market has been co-incinerated in a full-scale waste incineration plant. The co-feeding of 1 and 2 wt% of polystyrene foam had no influence on the operation of the plant. The bromine content increased the raw gas hydrogen bromide concentration slightly. The air emission, including that of dioxins and bromine, was not altered and so was the quality of the solid residues. The hexabromocyclododecane concentrations in the solid residues were almost identical, regardless of whether or not and how much polystyrene foam was added. The obtained destruction efficiency was >99.999% independent of the amount of added polystyrene foam. This finding indicates a virtually total destruction of hexabromocyclododecane.

Organic Contaminant Content and Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Waste Materials Recycled in Agriculture

“…The results from the analysis of waste ash materials were therefore consistent with the near complete destruction of HBCDs observed by MSW incineration [52].…”

Waste management of deconstructed External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems with expanded polystyrene in the future

“…The increasing calorific value of many waste streams currently poses a problem, as this reduces the capacity of the plants (EUWID, 2019). For example: an input of 2% EPS by mass in an incineration plant leads to an increase in the calorific value of the total input by 6% (Mark et al, 2015). The high plaster and adhesive content in ETICS reduces the calorific value of the mixture but has an undesirable high ash content, which is unfavourable for incineration plant operators.…”

Disposal of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) by grinding assisted with sodium persulfate

“…Incineration is an effective method for the treatment of HBCD, with a destruction efficiency of above 99%, but toxic byproducts, such as polybrominated dibenzodioxins/ dibenzofurans (PBDDs/Fs) are generated when the input of HBCD is high. 9 Zero-valent iron nanoparticle aggregates, poly-sulde and bisulde, and photodegradation have been utilized to destroy HBCD; however, these methods either required complicated reaction conditions, or were incomplete in terms of the debromination and destruction of the HBCD. [10][11][12] Attention has turned to mechanochemical methods in recent years because they are simple in their execution effective, and environmentally friendly.…”