Results of the analitical tests from the ENEL DCO LP laboratory of the AGAC Reggio Emilia incinerator.
Photo of the AGAC incinerator 
at Reggio Emilia (Italy), (88 k)
The analytical campaign realised by the ENEL DCO LP laboratory was done to measure the performance of the bicarbonate process at an incinerator, equipped with modern gas cleaning apparatus.
The scope was to see if it was possible to reach the severest environmental limits (in this case the German normations) with a relative simple process.
The incinerator of municipal and hospital waste has two incinerating lines, each for 100 tonnes/day. Both are equipped with bicarbonate process apparatus.
The total annual capacity of the incinerators is around 51,000 tonnes of waste.
Constructed in 1968, the incinerator has been upgraded several times:
The dustfree fumes thereafter are thoroughly mixed with fine milled sodium bicarbonate and active carbon, direct in the gas line.
The sodium residues (NaCl + Na2SO4 + Na2CO3), resulting from the neutralisation of the acid contents of the gas are separated in a second filtration system, realised by bag filters.
Date of first start of the new bicarbonate process (with double filtration): January 1995 (line 2), October 1995 (line 1).
The analitical campaign was executed in two phases:
The first phase from January 22 to February 2, 1996, the second from July 8 to 12, 1996. The interval between the two sampling periods was used to tune the active carbon dosing system.
The activities mainly were based on taking samples and succesive analyses of the main components. The sampling was effectuated at three points in the gas line. The following figure gives a general scheme of the incinerator and the location of the sampling points.
The analyses of gas composition for the determination of HCl, SOx, NOx, O2 and CO content at the points P2 and P3 was performed by online IR emission spectrophotometers type MIR 9000.
To analyse other elements and compositions, ad hoc sampling was performed, followed by analyses at the DCO/LP laboratory.
The sampling apparatus was made for the sampling of the three phases, solids, condensables and non-condensable gases. To determine the total contents of micro-elements, it is necessary to examine all three phases separately. The sampling time was app. 10 hours, to allow the collection of a sufficient amount for the following analyses. For the organic microcontaminants, 24 hours of sampling time were necessary.
For the dioxin analyses, a massa spectrometer was coupled with the gas chromatograph (GCMS), For the analyses of inorganic micropolluants was used a plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) was used, a plasma mass spectrometer with atomic emissions (ICPAES), an atomic absorption spectrometer with hydrogen generation (FIHGAAS) and an ion chromatograph (IC).
The detection limits of the analytical techniques used were:
| Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Hg, Sb |
0.003 µg/Nm3 |
|---|---|
As, Se, Sn |
0.03 µg/Nm3 |
| dioxins and furans |
0.08 ng/Nm3 |
| Polluent mg/Nm3 11%O2 |
At the entrance of the cleaning system |
Emissions after the bicarbonate process |
German normation 17a BIm Sch V of 1990 |
D.M. 12/7/90 (Italian legislation) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Particulates | 2-7 | 10 | 30 | |
| HCl | 1070 | < 5 | 10 | 50 |
| HF | 4 | < 0,02 | 1 | 2 |
| HBr | < 0,04 | < 0,04 | 5 | |
| HCN | 0,002 | < 0,001 | not normated | |
| SOx | 150 ± 20 | 1-18 | 50 | 300 |
| NOx | 140 ± 20 | 130 ± 20 | 200 | not normated |
| Substances Class 1.1 |
49x10^-6 | 0,1 | 0,1 | |
| As+Co+Ni | 0,036 | 0,009 | 1 | 1 |
| Se + Te | 7x10^-3 | 0,1x10^-3 | 1 | |
| Cd + Tl | 0,211 | 0,5x10^-3 | 0,05 | (+Hg) 0,2 |
| Hg | 0,54 | 0,009 | 0,05 | |
| Sb +Cr +Mn +Pb +Cu +Sn +V |
7,05 | 0,0029 | 1 | 5 |
| PCDD/F mg/Nm3 11%O2 ng/Nm3 (TE NATO) 11% O2 |
0,3 x 10^-4 0,95 |
0,6 x 10^-6 0,085 |
0,1 |
0,004 |
The analyses demonstrate that the Italian and German laws are respected at all required levels.
You are at level three of the Chlorophiles pages.
Created: May 3, 1997.
Last update: May 3, 1998.
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