Emissions of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans from a heavy oil-fueled power plant in northern Taiwan.
We measured the concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) from the flue gas and the ambient atmosphere of a power plant fueled by heavy oil in northern Taiwan. The mean emission concentration and I-TEQ concentration of total PCDD/Fs were 0.292 ng/Nm(3) and 0.016 ng I-TEQ/Nm(3), respectively. All PCDD/F emission concentrations in the flue gas were supposed to meet the Environmental Protection Administration Executive Yuan, R.O.C. standard (1.0 ng I-TEQ/Nm(3) from 2008). Furthermore, the mean I-TEQ concentration in the ambient atmosphere was 0.011 pg I-TEQ/Nm(3), which was much lower than the environmental quality standards for dioxins in Japan (0.6 pg TEQ/Nm(3)). Also, the PCDD/F emission factor was 0.188 ng I-TEQ/L fuel, which was comparable to the data issued in US EPA [EPA, Locating and estimating air emissions from sources of dioxins and furans, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Research Triangle Park, NC, DCN No. 95-298130-54-01, 1997] (0.2 ng I-TEQ/L of fuel). Also, the result of the correlations of PCDD/Fs and operational parameters illustrated that the positively significant correlation (r=0.502, p=0.048) was found only between PCDD/Fs (I-TEQ) and the flue gas emission temperature (125-157 degrees C). However, PCDD-TEQ/PCDF-TEQ ratios were statistically significantly associated with the decreased flue gas flow (r=-0.659, p=0.006), moisture (r=-0.612, p=0.012) and flue gas temperature (r=-0.503, p=0.047). For proper environmental management of dioxins, it is necessary to establish a complete emission inventory of PCDD/Fs, and, in particular, the government should pay more attention to power plants to address the information shortage.
Wang
Ya-Fen
YF
Department of Bioenvironmental Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 320, Taiwan. yfwang@cycu.edu.tw
Chao
How-Ran
HR
Wu
Chia-Hsin
CH
Wang
Lin-Chi
LC
Chang-Chien
Guo-Ping
GP
Yang
Hsi-Hsien
HH
Lin
Ding Yan
DY
Tsou
Tsui-Chun
TC
D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D002244:Carbon; D060729:Coal Ash; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D005579:Fossil Fuels / Q000032:analysis*; D052638:Particulate Matter; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D011210:Power Plants; D013624:Taiwan
D001572:Benzofurans; D060729:Coal Ash; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D005579:Fossil Fuels; D052638:Particulate Matter; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D002244:Carbon