Combustion of brominated flame retardants and behavior of its byproducts

The substance flow rate of PBDDs/DFs into flue gas and incineration residues from incineration of three types of waste samples containing brominated flame retardants were examined. The samples used consisted of PBDEs (a typical retardant), used TV casing materials (actual waste materials), and waste printed circuit boards. PBDDs/DFs concentrations in the experimental samples of PBDEs/PE, waste TV casing materials and printed circuit boards ranged between 3000 and 130,000 ng/g. These values are very high when compared to other investigations. The increase of chlorine concentration in input sample reduced the ratio of PBDDs/DFs in flue gas and raised the ratio of PCDDs/DFs. With adequate combustion control and flue gas treatment, the amount of PBDDs/DFs released from the incineration of resin containing brominated flame retardants was lower than the input amount. The presence of PBDDs/DFs in incineration residues dominated the total amount of dioxins released. When PBDDs/DFs, PCDDs/DFs and PXDDs/DFs were considered as a total, the total amount released was lower than the total amount input. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.