Comparative study on formations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans and related compounds in a fluidized bed solid waste incinerator using long term used sand and fresh sand

In a fluidized bed incinerator (FBI), municipal solid waste incinerated with the help of sand which had been repeatedly used for two months (worn-out sand) yielded one-order higher concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), polychlorinated benzenes (PCBzs) and polychlorinated phenols (PCPs) in comparison with that incinerated on unused (fresh) sand. As metal concentrations in sand increased after each cycle of incineration, the worn-out sand used contained one to two-order higher amount of metals than the sand used for the first time. Taken together, these findings might imply that the accumulation of metals in worn-out sand is responsible for the increase in the amounts of polychlorinated compounds.