title: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emission profiles and removal efficiency by electrostatic precipitator and wetfine scrubber in an iron ore sintering plant.
abstract: A monitoring campaign of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and polychlorinated biphenyl was carried out in an Italian iron ore sintering plant by sampling the combustion gases at the electrostatic precipitator (ESP) outlet, at the Wetfine scrubber (WS) outlet, and by collecting the ESP dust. Few data are available on these micropollutants produced in iron ore sintering plants, particularly from Italian plants. This study investigates the PAH emission profiles and the removal efficiency of ESPs and WS. PAHs were determined at the stack, ESP outlet flue gases, and in ESP dust to characterize the emission profiles and the performance of the ESP and the WS for reducing PAH emission. The 11 PAHs monitored are listed in the Italian legislative decree 152/2006. The mean total PAH sum concentration in the stack flue gases is 3.96 microg/N x m3, in ESP outlet flue gases is 9.73 microg/N x m3, and in ESP dust is 0.53 microg/g. Regarding the emission profiles, the most abundant compound is benzo(b)fluoranthene, which has a relative low BaP toxic equivalency factors (TEF) value, followed by dibenzo(a,l)pyrene, which has a very high BaP(TEF) value. The emission profiles in ESP dust and in the flue gases after the ESP show some changes, whereas the fingerprint in ESP and stack flue gases is very similar. The removal efficiency of the ESP and of WS on the total PAH concentration is 5.2 and 59.5%, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto sull'Inquinamento Atmosferico, Monterotondo Scalo, Italy. guerriero@iia.cnr.it
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guerriero
authors.forename: Antonina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lutri
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mabilia
authors.forename: Maria Concetta Tomasi
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Scianò
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rotatori
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002384:Catalysis; D010777:Photochemistry; D011791:Quartz / Q000737:chemistry*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; C509968:MCM-41; D011791:Quartz; C009495:titanium dioxide; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D014025:Titanium