Thermal Degradation of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans on Fly Ash from a Municipal Incinerator

Abstract
Heating fly ash from a municipal incinerator under oxygen deficient conditions in the temperature range from 200 to 470°C caused dechlorination of the PCDDs and PCDFs present in the matrix. The isomeric and congeneric composition of PCDDs and PCDFs was qualitatively and quantitatively determined by using GC/MS analysis. TCDD, TCDF, PnCDD and PnCDF concentrations increased in the temperature range from 200 to 370°C followed by a decrease at higher temperatures. The higher chlorinated compounds showed no distinct concentration maximum and