Removal of products of incomplete combustion with carbon

Carbon injection and carbon beds have been used in Europe for the control of incinerator polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (dioxin) and polychlorinated dibenzofuran (furan) emissions since the 1980s. In the April 1996 proposed Hazardous Waste Combustor Maximum Achievable Control Technology standards, the US Environmental Protection Agency identified carbon injection as Beyond-the-Floor control technology for dioxin emissions from hazardous waste incinerators. In addition to dioxins and furans, data from hazardous and municipal waste incinerators have shown that carbon injection or carbon bed control will also reduce emissions of other products of incomplete combustion (PICs). This paper will qualitatively discuss the theoretical aspects of the carbon adsorption of PICs at baghouse and electrostatic precipitator temperatures and flue gas concentrations of parts per million to billion or lower. A summary of data on PIC removal with carbon from hazardous and municipal waste incinerators is also presented. Most of the carbon-PIC data described is for non-dioxin PICs. The emphasis in this paper is on non-dioxin PICs.