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Degradation of PCDD/Fs in Fly Ash by Vortex-shaped Gliding Arc Plasma

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Abstract

PCDD/Fs in fly ash from municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs) can be decomposed in non-thermal plasma, more in particular in a vortex-shaped gliding arc. Typical operating conditions are 10 kV voltage, 40 kΩB external current-limited resistor, 11 L/min tangential gas and 2 L/min axial carrier gas flow rates. Degradation efficiencies of PCDD/Fs are respectively 54.9, 61.7 and 66.8 % on mass basis and 60.7, 73.3 and 70.1 % on toxicity basis under N2, air and O2 condition. After treatment the morphology of fly ash has changed: needle-shaped crystals increasing, pores and fragments appearing and high-temperature melting showing which is leaded by direct contact with high-temperature core of arc. The results are explained tentatively by the creation of reactive intermediates leading to dechlorination and oxidation of PCDD/Fs and finally producing end-products such as CO2, CO, HCl and CH4.

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Acknowledgments

This project is supported by The National Basic Research Program(973 Program), China (No. 2011CB201500) and National Nature Science Foundation of China (No. 50976099).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

    Yong Ren, Xiaodong Li, Liang Yu, Kui Cheng & Jianhua Yan

  2. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510275, Guangzhou, China

    Changming Du

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  1. Yong Ren
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  2. Xiaodong Li
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  3. Liang Yu
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  4. Kui Cheng
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  5. Jianhua Yan
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Correspondence to Jianhua Yan.

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Ren, Y., Li, X., Yu, L. et al. Degradation of PCDD/Fs in Fly Ash by Vortex-shaped Gliding Arc Plasma. Plasma Chem Plasma Process 33, 293–305 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11090-012-9421-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11090-012-9421-9

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