Dioxins and polyvinylchloride in combustion and fires

Abstract

This review on polyvinylchloride (PVC) and dioxins collects, collates, and compares data from selected sources on the formation of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), or in brief dioxins, in combustion and fires. In professional spheres, the incineration of PVC as part of municipal solid waste is seldom seen as a problem, since deep flue gas cleaning is required anyhow. Conversely, with its high content of chlorine, PVC is frequently branded as a major chlorine donor and spitefully leads to substantial formation of dioxins during poorly controlled or uncontrolled combustion and open fires. Numerous still ill-documented and diverse factors of influence may affect the formation of dioxins during combustion: on the one hand PVC-compounds represent an array of materials with widely different formulations; on the other hand these may all be exposed to fires of different nature and consequences. Hence, attention should be paid to PVC with respect to the ignition and development of fires, as well as attenuating the emission of objectionable compounds, such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and dioxins. This review summarises available dioxin emissions data, gathers experimental and simulation studies of fires and combustion tests involving PVC, and identifies and analyses the effects of several local factors of influence, affecting the formation of dioxins during PVC combustion.

14th congress of combustion by-products and their health effects—origin, fate, and health effects of combustion-related air pollutants in the coming era of bio-based energy sources

“…The concentrations of PCDDs and PCDFs in the combustion gases, their toxic equivalents and emis-sion factors (expressed as mass of pollutant per unit mass or volume of fuel) were compared for different source classifications. Zhang discussed the formation pathways of brominated and mixed halogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans from brominated flame retardants and also reviewed the influence of chlorine concentration on PCDDs and PCDFs formation, chlorination/bromination and halogen exchange reactions upon the final distribution of bromination, chlorination and mixed halogenation (Zhang et al 2015).…”

Improving the Healthiness of Sustainable Construction: Example of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

“…These improve heat performance, the appearance of the product and, if needed, add flexibility. Heat stabilizers and gliding agents stop thermal decomposition during processing and molding [3]. PVC would thermally decompose into VCM.…”

“…They are unintentionally produced, often due to incomplete combustion or during certain manufacturing processes. All chlorine containing materials when incompletely combusted in presence of organic material can lead to the formation of dioxins [3].…”

“…Toxic heavy metals cadmium and lead have only recently been removed from PVC stabilizers. The deadline for voluntary removal of lead stabilizer from PVC in the EU was as recent as 2015, preceded in 2005 by the voluntary removal of lead in PVC piping for water supply [23], and 2001 voluntary phasing out of cadmium [3]. In 2017, however, the website of the European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers (ECVM) was still reporting on the long history, excellent properties, and cost-effectiveness of lead as a stabilizer of PVC [23].…”

“…Despite these efforts, in 2016, world consumption of PVC was around 40 million tons, and this is still expected to rise by 2.3% per year until 2024 [2]. Globally, PVC is the third largest commodity plastic [3]. This article focuses on PVC in the construction industry, because currently such products are the single most significant user of PVC, representing as much as about 60-70% of its total consumption [2,4].…”