Research on Emission Characteristics of VOCs from a Typical MSW Incineration Power Plant in Guangzhou, China

BO-GUANG WANG , Shu-Le Liu, Chen Wang, Wei Luo

Department of Environmental Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

     Abstract Number: 60
     Last modified: October 9, 2009

Abstract
Using adsorption-thermal desorption sampling and GC-MS analysis, this paper evaluates the component characteristics and environmental impacts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from the Discharge Workshop and Chimney of Guangzhou Likeng municipal solid waste(MSW) incineration power plant which is still the typical and the largest MSW incineration power plant in the Pear River Delta (PRD) of China. 48 and 32 kinds of VOCs are respectively detected in the sources samples and the ambient air samples. Total VOCs concentration in Discharge Workshop is 32.41±9.25µg•m-3 per hour which is mainly composed of aromatics compounds and oxygenated organic compounds while total VOCs from Chimney is up to 1206.03±36.46µg•m-3 per hour which primarily includes aminomethanesulfonic acid, methyl isocyanate, benzenes and halohydrocarbon. The VOCs products of incineration are simpler but more than before with higher toxicity. The result shows the nitrogen hydrocarbons account for 94% of total emission, chlorobenzene and tetrachloroethylene are both important molecular markers of the source. The research indicates that VOCs emitted from MSW incineration power plant can play a significant role on human health in the PRD and mention that a priority control strategy should to be given to the reduction of nitrogen-containing organic compounds and halogenated hydrocarbon.