Study on Analysis of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Municipal Waste Incinerator Fly Ash and Bottom Ash
Main Article Content
Abstract
Studies on the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Vietnamese incinerator ash samples are relatively limited. In this study, an analytical procedure for the determination of 16 PAHs in fly ash and bottom ash of municipal waste incinerator was investigated. PAHs were extracted from the ash samples by using a focused ultrasonic processor with different solvents including acetone, dichloromethane, and toluene. Among these solvents, toluene exhibited the highest extraction efficiency. The PAH extracts were purified by passing through solid phase extraction cartridges containing silica gel with dichloromethane/hexane (1:3) as elution solvent. PAHs were separated and quantified on a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) system operated in electron impact ionization (EI) and selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. Total organic carbon (TOC) contents and total PAH concentrations in the bottom ash were about 6 times higher than those of the fly ash. Levels of PAHs in our ash samples were generally lower than values documented by previous studies in the UK, Sweden, China, and Taiwan. Concentrations and profiles of PAHs in ash samples varied greatly and additional studies on these pollutants in waste incineration activities are needed to characterize their formation mechanism and emission pathway.
Keywords:
PAHs, fly ash, bottom ash, extraction solvent, GC/MS
References
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[3] C. H. K. Lam, A. W. M. Ip, J. P. Barford, G. McKay, Use of Incineration MSW Ash: A Review, Sustainability, Vol. 2, 2010, pp. 1943- 1968, https://doi.org/10.3390/su2071943.
[4] R. Sharma, M. Sharma, R. Sharma, V. Sharma, The Impact of Incinerators on Human Health and Environment, Rev. Environ. Health, Vol 28, pp. 67-72, https://doi.org/10.1515/reveh-2012-0035.
[5] N. T. Hue, N. T. T. Thuy, N. H. Tung, Polychlorobenzenes and Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Ash and Soil from Several Industrial Areas in North Vietnam: Residue Concentrations, Profiles and Risk Assessment, Evviron. Geochem. Health, Vol. 38, 2016, pp. 399-411, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-015-9726-8.
[6] M. T. N. Pham, H. Q. Anh, X. T. Nghiem, B. M. Tu, T. N. Dao, M. H. Nguyen, Characterization of PCDD/Fs and Dioxin-like PCBs in Flue Gas from Thermal Industrial Processes in Vietnam: A Comprehensive Investigation on Emission Profiles and Levels, Chemosphere, Vol. 225, 2019, pp. 238-246, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.03.024.
[7] M. T. N. Pham, A. Q. Hoang, X. T. Nghiem, B. M. Tu, T. N. Dao, D. N. Vu, Residue Concentrations and Profiles of PCDD/Fs in Ash Samples from Multiple Thermmal Industrial Processes in Vietnam: Formation, Emission Levels, and Risk Assessment, Eviron. Sci. Pollut. Res., Vol. 26, 2019, pp. 17719-17730, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-05015-2.
[8] T. T. T. Nguyen, A. Q. Hoang, V. D. Nguyen, H. T. Nguyen, T. V. Vu, X. T. Vuong, M. B. Tu, Concentrations, Profiles, Emission Inventory, and Risk Assessment of Chlorinated Benzenes in Bottom Ash and Fly Ash of Municipal and Medical Waste Incinerators in Nothern Vietnam, Eviron. Sci. Pollut. Res., Vol. 28, 2021, pp. 13340-13351, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-11385-9.
[9] H. T. Nguyen, V. Q. Pham, T. P. M. Nguyen, T. T. T. Nguyen, B. M. Tu, P. T. Le, Emission and Distribution Profiles of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Solid Residues of Municipal and Industrial Waste Incinerators, Northern Vietnam, Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res., Vol. 30, 2023, pp. 38255-38268, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-24680-4.
[10] C. Shen, X. Tang, J. Yao, D. Shi, J. Fang, M. I. Khan, S. A. Cheema, Y. Chen, Levels and Patterns of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Polychlorinated biphenyls in Municipal Waste Incinerator Bottom Ash in Zhejang Province, China, J. Hazard. Mater., Vol. 179, 2010, pp. 197-202, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.02.079.
[11] L. Zhao, F. S. Zhang, Z. Hao, H. Wang, Levels of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Different Types of Hospital Waste Incinerator Ashes, Sci. Total Environ., Vol. 397, 2008, pp. 24-30, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.02.040.
[12] J. D. Chou, M. Y. Wey, S. H. Chang, Emisson of Pb and PAHs from Thermally Co-treated MSWI Fly Ash and Bottom Ash Process, J. Hazard. Mater, Vol. 150, 2008, pp. 27-36, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2007.04.041.
[13] Y. A. Levendis, A. Atal, J. B. Carlson, PAH and Soot Emissions from Burning Components of Medical Waste: Examination/Surgical Gloves and Cotton pads, Chemosphere, Vol. 42, 2001, pp. 775-83, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0045-6535(00)00251-4.
[14] Z. Kosnar, F. Mercl, I. Perna, P. Tlustos, Investigation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Content in Fly Ash and Bottom Ash of Biomass Incineration Plants in Relation to the Operating Temperature and Unburned Carbon Content, Sci. Total Environ., Vol. 563-564, 2016, pp. 56-61, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.059.
[15] T. L. Chung, C. J. Liao, G. P. Chang-Chien, Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins/Dibenzofurans in Ash from Different Units in a Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator, Waste Manag. Res., Vol. 28, 2010, pp. 789-799, https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242x09357221.
[16] I. Johansson, B. V. Bavel, Levels and Patterns of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Incineration Ashes, Sci. Total Environ., Vol. 311, 2003, pp. 221-231, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0048-9697(03)00168-2.
[17] I. Johansson, B. V. Bavel, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Weathered Bottom Ash from Incineration of Municipal Solid Waste, Chemosphere, Vol. 53, pp. 123-128, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0045-6535(03)00299-6.
[18] H. Li, G. Liu, Y. Cao, Levels and Environmental Impact of PAHs and Trace Element in Fly Ash from a Miscellaneous Solid Waste by Rotary Kiln Incinerator, China, Nat. Hazards, Vol. 76, 2015, pp. 811-822, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11069-014-1520-x.
[19] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Standard Operating Procedure for Soil Organic Carbon Walkley-Black Method: Titration and Colorimetric Method, 2019, https://www.fao.org/3/ca7471en/ca7471en.pdf.
[20] W. M. G. Lee, S. Y. Yen, J. C. Chen, The Relation between Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Organic Carbon in Fly Ash from Municipal Incinerator, J. Environ. Sci. Health, Vol. 28, 1993, pp. 1495-1506, https://doi.org/10.1080/10934529309375957.
[21] O. Dahl, H. Nurmesniemi, R. Poykio, G.Watkins, Comparison of the Characteristics of Bottom Ash and Fly Ash from a Medium-Size (32 MW) Municipal District Heating Plant Incinerating Forest Residues and Peat in a Fluidized-bed Boiler, Fuel Processing Technology, Vol. 90, 2009, pp. 871-878, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2009.04.013.
[22] K. Manskinen, H. Nurmesniemi, R. Poykio, Occupational Risk Evaluation of Using Bottom Ash and Fly Ash as a Construction Material, J. Hazard Toxic Radioact Waste, Vol. 16, 2012, pp. 79-87, https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HZ.2153-5515.0000111.
[23] L. Zhao, F. S. Zhang, M. Chen, Z. Liu, D. B. J. Wu, Typical Pollutants in Bottom Ashes from a Typical Medical Waste Incinerator, J. Hazard. Mater, Vol. 173, 2010, pp. 181-185, https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.jhazmat.2009.08.066.
[24] R. Poykio, K. Manskinen, H. Nurmesniemi, O. Dahl, Comparison of Trace Elements in Bottom Ash and Fly Ash from a Large-sized (77 MW) Multi-fuel Boiler at the Power Plants of a Fluting Board mill, Finland, Energy Explor. Exploit, Vol. 29, 2011, pp. 217-234, https://doi.org/10.1260/0144-5987.29.3.217.
[25] US EPA, Method 610: Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons, 1984, https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-10/documents/method_610_1984.pdf.
[26] US EPA, Method 625.1: Base/Neutrals and Acids by GC/MS, 2016, https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-08/documents/method_625-1_2016.pdf.
[27] C. Samara, Analysis of Organic Particulate Matter, In: T. Kouimtzis, C. Samara (Eds.), Airborne Particulate Matter, The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, Vol. 4/4D, Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-49145-3_9.
[28] P. Sun, L. K. Weavers, P. Taerakul, H. W. Walker, Characterization of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) on Lime Spray Dryer (LSD) Ash Using Different Extraction Methods, Chemosphere, Vol. 62, 2006, pp. 265-274, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2005.05.014.
[29] Q. Gao, P. Haglund, L. Pommer, S. Jansson, Evaluation of Solvent for Pressurized Liquid Extraction of PCDD, PCDF, PCN, PCBz, PCPh and PAH in Torrefied Woody Biomass, Fuel, Vol. 154, 2015, pp. 52-58, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2015.03.068.