Emissions of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Polychlorinated
Dibenzo‑<i>p</i>‑Dioxins, and Dibenzofurans
from Incineration of Nanomaterials
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Abstract
Disposal
of some nanomaterial-laden waste through incineration
is inevitable, and nanomaterials’ influence on combustion byproduct
formation under high-temperature, oxidative conditions is not well
understood. This work reports the formation of polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated-dibenzo-<i>p</i>-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) from incineration of paper and
plastic waste containing various nanomaterials, including titania,
nickel oxide, silver, ceria, iron oxide, quantum dots, and C<sub>60</sub>-fullerene, in a laboratory-scale furnace. The presence of nanomaterials
in the waste stream resulted in higher emissions of some PAH species
and lower emissions of others, depending on the type of waste. The
major PAH species formed were phenanthrene and anthracene, and emissions
were sensitive to the amount of nanomaterials in the waste. Generally,
there were no significant differences in emission factors for the
larger PAH species when nanomaterials were added to the waste. The
total PAH emission factors were on average ∼6 times higher
for waste spiked with nanomaterials v. their bulk counterparts. Emissions
of chlorinated dioxins from poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) waste were
not detected; however, chlorinated furans were formed at elevated
concentrations with wastes containing silver and titania nanomaterials,
and toxicity was attributable mainly to 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran.
The combination of high specific surface area and catalytic, including
electrocatalytic, properties of nanomaterials might be responsible
for affecting the formation of toxic pollutants during incineration