Purpose This study focused on two incineration plants in Taiwan, plant Z and plant CD, utilizing solid recovered fuel (SRF). Methods We assessed emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD/Fs), and heavy metals (HMs) e.g., (Hg, As, Pb, Cr, Be, and Cd) across various environmental media. Results We found that co-firing SRF with coal achieved significant reductions: NOx by 25%, PCDD/Fs by 70%, and Hg by 29%. Additionally, particulate emissions decreased from 5 mg Nm-3 with coal alone to 2 mg Nm-3 using the coal-SRF mixture, and PCDD/Fs emissions declined to 0.003 ng-TEQ g-1. Plant CD showed higher air concentrations of As and Pb in sediments (7.32 × 10-1 μg kg-1, 2.24 × 10-7 μg kg-1) compared to plant Z, which had lower Pb but higher Cr. In water environment, plant CD showed higher levels of As, Be, Hg, and Cr (3.36×10-7 μg kg-1, 1.79 ×10-7 μg kg-1, 1.75×10-9 μg kg-1, 1.74×10-7 μg kg-1). Regarding soil, plant CD had higher concentrations of As, Be, and Cr (7.32×10-1 μg kg-1, 3.90×10-1 μg kg-1, 3.79×10-1 μg kg-1), while plant Z showed elevated Pb (3.01 × 10-1 μg kg-1). In sediments, plant CD showed higher levels of Cr, Be, and Pb (3.28 ×10-6 μg kg-1, 2.92 ×10-6 μg kg-1, 2.24 ×10-7 μg kg-1) along with increased low molecular weight (LMW) and high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs (7.54 × 10-2 μg kg-1, 1.68 × 10-4 μg kg-1) than plant Z. The hazard quotient (HQ) values (< 1) showed lower ecological risks. Conclusions However higher levels of HMs, PCDD/Fs, and PAHs from plant CD suggest potential environmental impacts that warrant further investigation. Graphical abstract

Pollutant Emissions, Characteristics, and Ecological Risk Assessment in the Vicinity of Incineration Plants Using Solid-Recovered Fuel (SRF) in Taiwan

期刊论文
出版模式：

开放获取
发表日期：

2025年5月21日

查看全文

Kaleem Khan,
Chih-Hung Lin,
Yuan-Jeng Hsu,
Kai Hsien Chi,
Shahzada Amani Room,
Jung-Wei Chang

摘要

Purpose

This study focused on two incineration plants in Taiwan, plant Z and plant CD, utilizing solid recovered fuel (SRF).

Methods

We assessed emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD/Fs), and heavy metals (HMs) e.g., (Hg, As, Pb, Cr, Be, and Cd) across various environmental media.

Results

We found that co-firing SRF with coal achieved significant reductions: NOx by 25%, PCDD/Fs by 70%, and Hg by 29%. Additionally, particulate emissions decreased from 5 mg Nm^-3 with coal alone to 2 mg Nm^-3 using the coal-SRF mixture, and PCDD/Fs emissions declined to 0.003 ng-TEQ g^-1. Plant CD showed higher air concentrations of As and Pb in sediments (7.32 × 10^-1 μg kg^-1, 2.24 × 10^-7 μg kg^-1) compared to plant Z, which had lower Pb but higher Cr. In water environment, plant CD showed higher levels of As, Be, Hg, and Cr (3.36×10^-7 μg kg^-1, 1.79 ×10^-7 μg kg^-1, 1.75×10^-9 μg kg^-1, 1.74×10^-7 μg kg^-1). Regarding soil, plant CD had higher concentrations of As, Be, and Cr (7.32×10^-1 μg kg^-1, 3.90×10^-1 μg kg^-1, 3.79×10^-1 μg kg^-1), while plant Z showed elevated Pb (3.01 × 10^-1 μg kg^-1). In sediments, plant CD showed higher levels of Cr, Be, and Pb (3.28 ×10^-6 μg kg^-1, 2.92 ×10^-6 μg kg^-1, 2.24 ×10^-7 μg kg^-1) along with increased low molecular weight (LMW) and high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs (7.54 × 10^-2 μg kg^-1, 1.68 × 10^-4 μg kg^-1) than plant Z. The hazard quotient (HQ) values (< 1) showed lower ecological risks.

Conclusions

However higher levels of HMs, PCDD/Fs, and PAHs from plant CD suggest potential environmental impacts that warrant further investigation.

Graphical abstract