How do you treat dioxins that are formed when combusting waste?

Dioxins and related compounds are formed and destroyed in thermal processes. In the area of ​​high temperatures (above 800 °C) for waste incineration plants almost all dioxins contained in waste, break down into carbon dioxide, water and hydrogen chloride. A small amount of dioxin from the incoming waste is still stored with the particles, and contained in the slag or bottom ash. The level of dioxins contained is extremely small, so the slag can be used as a filler or a building material.

At the Donetsk WtE plant, flue gas cleaning system is designed to meet the EU directive on waste incineration (2000/76/EC), as well as the Ukrainian legislation on emissions of pollutants. Flue gas cleaning system ensures that the emissions will be below normal and / or recommended value.

The company will install a modern multi-stage flue gas cleaning system:

  • Destruction of pollutants in combustion (over 2 seconds of exposure to more than 850 C)
  • Absorbents are added in the outgoing gases
  • Absorbents and pollution are then separated from the flue gases in the baghouse
  • The boiler technology is used for the selective catalytic reduction to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx)

The majority (90%) human exposure to dioxins is due to a diet of animal origin to the consumption of products by type of meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products. Indirect exposure may also occur if inhaled or swallowed air of the soil (depending on the circumstances). In terms of emissions of WtE, the current limit value for dioxins and furans is 0.1 nanograms per cubic meter of gas emissions. One nanogram is one billionth of a gram. Inhalation is a minor route of exposure and, given that the share of municipal solid waste incineration forms less than 1% of dioxin emissions, the share of emissions from WtE plant in direct exposure of the respiratory system to dioxins in is a minor component of the average dose per person.