Comparison of Carbonaceous Compounds Emission from the Co-Combustion of Coal and Waste in Boilers Used in Residential Heating in Poland, Central Europe

In this study, the effect of the addition of waste on the emissions from coal co-combustion was investigated. Coal was co-combusted with different additions of medium-density fiberboard and polyethylene terephthalate plastic (10 and 50%), in a low-power boiler (18 W). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phenols, alkylphenols, phthalates, and biomass burning markers emissions were determined. Gas chromatography, coupled with a mass spectrometry detector, was used to analyze these compounds in particulate matter and gas phase, after extraction and derivatization. The emissions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were the highest among all the compounds determined. The total emission of these compounds was 215.1 mg/kg for coal, and 637.7 and 948.3 mg/kg for a 10 and 50% additive of polyethylene terephthalate plastic, respectively. For the 10 and 50% additive of medium-density fiberboard, the total emission was 474.2 and 464.0 mg/kg, respectively. The 50% addition of PET also had the highest emissions of phenols (638.5 mg/kg), alkylphenols (246.5 mg/kg), and phthalates (18.1 mg/kg), except for biomass burning markers, where the emissions were the highest for the 50% addition of medium-density fiberboard (541.3 mg/kg). In our opinion, the obtained results are insufficient for the identification of source apportionment from household heating.

Automated summary

The study investigated the effect of waste addition on emissions from coal co-combustion, finding that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons had the highest emission levels. The 50% addition of polyethylene terephthalate plastic and medium-density fiberboard showed notable emissions of phenols, alkylphenols, and phthalates.