GLC Prediction of Dioxin-Furan and Metals Emissions from a Hazardous Waste Incineration Plant

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources and Earth Sciences, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran

2 Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Malaysia Japan International Institute of Technology, UTM Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abstract

Spatial prediction and evaluation of pollutants emissions from incineration plant can be assessed by using air dispersion models. This study was to evaluate the impact of emission of selected pollutants generated by an incineration plant in Malaysia. The SCREEN3 dispersion model was used to simulate the ground level concentration (GLC) of heavy metals and dioxin-furan emitted from the incinerator up to within 5 km surrounding it. The model was run based on its actual and maximum allowable emission rates. None of the predicted maximum GLCs of the pollutants based on the actual emission rates as well as based on emission limits imposed on the incineration plant exceed more that 1% of their respective limits. The effect of gas exit temperature (80◦C and 160◦C) was also analyzed in predicting the pollutants GLC. Results showed that the maximum GLC of pollutants fall within 600 m and 800 m from the stack under lower and higher gas exit temperature, respectively, while pollutant concentration decreases with the distance and higher exit stack gas temperature reduces the predicted GLCs of pollutants. The predicted maximum GLC for metal pollutants at exit gas temperature of 160◦C was 75% of that observed at 80◦C. While for dioxin-furan, this was much more i.e 10% of the 80◦C. Comparing the predicted GLC level with the recommended ambient air quality guidelines, the incinerator does not seem to contribute a significant air pollution problem in the area.

Keywords


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