Abstract
The role of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and sodium chloride (NaCl) salts as organic and inorganic sources of chlorine in the formation of PCDD/Fs was investigated in a simple lab-scale incinerator simulating a batch-type combustor operating at around 500°C. Non-chlorinated polymers were incinerated separately with PVC and NaCl. As compared to NaCl, PVC yielded 45, 43, and 16 times more total PCDD/Fs with PS, PE, and PP, respectively. Maximum TEQ of 27ng per gram of plastic was detected in the combination of PE and PVC, while with NaCl the same non-chlorinated polymer produced only 1ng-TEQ/g. A TEQ value of 13ng/g was detected in PVC sample incinerated individually.
