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Distribution of gasification products and emission of heavy metals and dioxins from municipal solid waste at the low temperature pyrolysis stage

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Abstract

Gasification is widely regarded as one of the most practical, economical, and environmentally friendly waste disposal technologies for municipal solid waste (MSW). The pyrolysis stage (300–500 °C) is crucial for weight loss during MSW gasification, as a considerable amount of organic matter breaks down, producing high-value synthesis gas. This study investigated the product distribution and pollutant emission characteristics within this temperature range and its influencing factors during MSW gasification using a self-designed MSW gasification device. Results indicated that MSW underwent approximately 70% weight loss within this temperature range, yielding low amounts of inorganic and short-chain organic products, with mainly long-chain organic compounds of C16–C34. The atmosphere variation had minimal effect on the elemental composition and content of solid phase products. X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analyses showed that Mn and Zn were the primary components of heavy metal leaching toxicity in solid phase products, with their contents increasing as temperature increased. Synthesis gas showed the highest content of heavy metal As element, reaching a peak at 400 °C. Higher gasification temperature and lower oxygen flow rate significantly reduced the dioxin content and I-TEQ values, with highly chlorinated isomers being the predominant dioxin isomers. Nonetheless, low-chlorinated dioxins accounted for more than 50% of the I-TEQ. This study improves our understanding of the gasification process of MSW.

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Present study data are available with corresponding author and are available on reasonable request.

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Funding

This work was supported by “Pioneer” and “Leading Goose” R&D Program of Zhejiang (No.2023C03157) and the Zhejiang students’ technology and innovation program (XinMiao RenCai program), China (2023R409A053).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Metrology and Measurement Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang Province, China

    Shi Feng, Yu-Han Feng, Ming-Xiu Zhan, Jin-Qing Wang & Xu Xu

  2. Beijing Construction Engineering Group Environmental Remediation Co. Ltd., Beijing, 100015, China

    Long-jie Ji

  3. Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 18 Shuangqing Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100085, China

    Ming-Xiu Zhan

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  1. Shi Feng
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  2. Yu-Han Feng
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  5. Jin-Qing Wang
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  6. Xu Xu
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Contributions

Shi Feng carried out experiment and wrote the manuscript. Yu-Han Feng researched literature. Long-jie Ji, Ming-Xiu Zhan, and Xu Xu checked the manuscript. Jin-Qing Wang edited and reviewed. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Xu Xu.

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Feng, S., Feng, YH., Ji, Lj. et al. Distribution of gasification products and emission of heavy metals and dioxins from municipal solid waste at the low temperature pyrolysis stage. Environ Sci Pollut Res 31, 16388–16400 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-32284-3

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