Investigation of NOx precursor compounds and other combustion by-products in the primary combustion zone of a waste-incineration plant using on-line, real-time mass spectrometry and Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR).
On-line analysis of trace and bulk gas compounds in the burning chamber of a waste-incineration plant has been performed, with high temporal resolution, by use of a variety of distinctly different measurement techniques. Time-of-flight mass spectrometry was performed with simultaneous use of three ionization techniques-resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI), single-photon ionization (SPI), and electron-impact ionization (EI). Chemical-ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS), Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), and electrochemical methods were also used. Sampling was conducted by means of a newly developed air-cooled stainless steel lance, to cope with the high temperatures and elevated particle concentrations at the sampling location. Nitrogen species were mainly nitrogen monoxide, ammonia, and hydrogen cyanide (HCN), with a small amount (approximately 0.3%) of aromatic nitrogen compounds. NO, NH(3), and HCN are the main contributors to the NO(x)-formation process in the postulated fuel-NO reaction scheme dominant at this location. The NO recycling process thereby plays a major role. Changes in plant operating conditions have a noticeable impact only when the air supply is varied. For example, reduction of oxygen leads to an increase in the HCN fraction of the total nitrogen content and a decrease in the NO fraction, and vice versa.
Streibel
T
T
Institute of Ecological Chemistry, GSF, National Research Centre for Environment and Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
Hafner
K
K
Mühlberger
F
F
Adam
T
T
Warnecke
R
R
Zimmermann
R
R
D017745:Incineration; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis*
D009589:Nitrogen Oxides; D014866:Waste Products