Abstract
This paper summarizes research trends regarding polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) contained in waste incineration residues and in residues generated from industrial heating processes such as fly ash and clinker in cement kilns, residues generated from secondary refining of steel and non-ferrous metals. Research themes currently being undertaken by the authors is also introduced.
With the exception of some samples, contents contained within the residue were at the same levels. Although many studies and statistical analyses have been conducted based on distribution of homologues and isomers, fully distinguishing between product-based and combustion-based PCNs and identifying the chlorination reaction route seems to still be problematic. It is suggested that thermal dechlorination treatment under reduction conditions is effective in decomposing, dechlorinating, and reducing the toxicity of PCNs. The reported value of the emission factor of PCNs in waste incineration measured as wide as 1 to 48600 μg t−1, which suggests that further study is required.
