Fungi and substrates undergoing fungal decomposition were collected from forests in northern and southern Sweden and analyzed for chlorinated dimethoxybenzenes (DMBs). Specimens were fungi fruiting bodies, rotting wood, forest litter and underlying humus. Targeted compounds were DAME (1,2,4,5-tetrachloro-3,6-DMB) and related fungal secondary metabolites. A screening procedure was developed which involved soaking the specimens in ethyl acetate followed by analysis by capillary gas chromatography – mass spectrometry with mass selective detection (GC-MSD). DAME was the most frequently found (62% of 47 specimens) and often the most abundant target compound, with range and mean ± SD concentrations of <0.0017–3.81 and 0.21 ± 0.63 mg kg−1 ww. Based on log-log correlations of partition coefficients of hydrophobic compounds between fungal biomass/water (KD) and octanol/water (KOW), five species of fungi are suggested to produce DAME de novo versus bioaccumulation from forest runoff water. Full-scan mass spectra of some high-concentration specimens indicated the presence of a Cl2DMB and a Cl3DMB, which could not be identified further due to lack of standards, and drosophilin A (DA = 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-4-methoxyphenol), the precursor to DAME. Tetrachloroveratrole (TeCV = 1,2,3,4-tetrachloro-5,6-DMB) was found in only a few specimens. This study supports our hypothesis of fungi as a source of DAME in terrestrial runoff and indicates that other chlorinated secondary metabolites are present. DAME is widely distributed globally, and it would be good to have a better understanding of its sources and pathways as a marker of terrestrial organochlorines and their availability for bioaccumulation.

Sedan 1996 har Livsmedelsverket regelbundet samlat in modersmjolk fran forstfoderskor i Uppsala for analys av persistenta halogenerade organiska miljofororeningar (POP), i studien POPUP (Persistent ...

Marine macroalgae are used worldwide for human consumption, animal feed, cosmetics and agriculture. In addition to beneficial nutrients, macroalgae contain halogenated natural products (HNPs), some of which have toxic properties similar to those of well-known anthropogenic contaminants. Sixteen species of red, green and brown macroalgae were collected in 2017-2018 from coastal waters of the northern Baltic Sea, Sweden Atlantic and Norway Atlantic, and analyzed for bromoanisoles (BAs) and methoxylated bromodiphenyl ethers (MeO-BDEs). Target compounds were quantified by gas chromatography-low resolution mass spectrometry (GC-LRMS), with qualitative confirmation in selected species by GC-high resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS). Quantified compounds were 2,4-diBA, 2,4,6-triBA, 2'-MeO-BDE68, 6-MeO-BDE47, and two tribromo-MeO-BDEs and one tetrabromo-MeO-BDE with unknown bromine substituent positions. Semiquantitative results for pentabromo-MeO-BDEs were also obtained for a few species by GC-HRMS. Three extraction methods were compared; soaking in methanol, soaking in methanol-dichloromethane, and blending with mixed solvents. Extraction yields of BAs did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) with the three methods and the two soaking methods gave equivalent yields of MeO-BDEs. Extraction efficiencies of MeO-BDEs were significantly lower using the blend method (p < 0.05). For reasons of simplicity and efficiency, the soaking methods are preferred. Concentrations varied by orders of magnitude among species: ∑2BAs 57 to 57 700 and ∑5MeO-BDEs < 10 to 476 pg g-1 wet weight (ww). Macroalgae standing out with ∑2BAs >1000 pg g-1 ww were Ascophyllum nodosum, Ceramium tenuicorne, Ceramium virgatum, Fucus radicans, Fucus serratus, Fucus vesiculosus, Saccharina latissima, Laminaria digitata, and Acrosiphonia/Spongomorpha sp. Species A. nodosum, C. tenuicorne, Chara virgata, F. radicans and F. vesiculosus (Sweden Atlantic only) had ∑5MeO-BDEs >100 pg g-1 ww. Profiles of individual compounds showed distinct differences among species and locations.

We report concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, novel flame retardants, and naturally occurring bromoanisoles in water and filter‐feeding black fly (Simuliidae) larvae in 3 tundra streams in northern Sweden. The results demonstrate that black fly larvae accumulate a wide range of organic contaminants and can be used as bioindicators of water pollution in Arctic streams. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:3011–3017. © 2018 SETAC

Nondestructive sample cleanup and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) analysis generated a massive amount of data that could be used for nontarget screening purposes. We present a data reduction and prioritization strategy that involves time-trend analysis of nontarget data. Sewage sludge collected between 2005 and 2015 in Stockholm (Sweden) was retrieved from an environmental specimen bank, extracted, and analyzed by GC×GC-HRMS. After data alignment features with high blank levels, artifacts and low detection frequency were removed. Features that appeared in four to six out of ten years were reprocessed to fill in gaps. The total number of compounds was reduced by more than 97% from almost 60 000 to almost 1500. The remaining compounds were analyzed for monotonic (log-linear) and nonmonotonic (smoother) time trends. In total, 192 compounds with log-linear trends and 120 compounds with nonmonotonic trends were obtained, respectively. Most compounds described by a log-linear trend exhibited decreasing trends and were traffic-related. Compounds with increasing trends included UV-filters, alkyl-phenols, and flavor and fragrances, which often could be linked to trade statistics. We have shown that nontarget screening and stepwise reduction of data provides a simple way of revealing significant changes in emissions of chemicals in society.

Halogenated natural products in biota of the Baltic Sea include bromoanisoles (BAs) and methoxylated bromodiphenyl ethers (MeO-BDEs). We identified biogenic 6-MeO-BDE47 and 2′-MeO-BDE68 in Baltic water and air for the first time using gas chromatography – high resolution mass spectrometry. Partial pressures in air were related to temperature by: log p/Pa = m / T(K) + b. We determined Henry's law constants (HLCs) of 2,4-dibromoanisole (2,4-DiBA) and 2,4,6-tribromoanisole (2,4,6-TriBA) from 5 to 30 °C and revised our assessment of gas exchange in the northern Baltic. The new water/air fugacity ratios (FRs) were lower, but still indicated net volatilization in May–June for 2,4-DiBA and May – September for 2,4,6-TriBA. The net flux (negative) of BAs from Bothnian Bay (38,000 km2) between May – September was revised from –1319 to − 532 kg. FRs of MeO-BDEs were > 1, suggesting volatilization, although this is tentative due to uncertainties in their HLCs and binding to dissolved organic carbon.

Hushallens bidrag av tvattvatten fran textiltvatt till de kommunala avloppsreningsverken uppskattas till ca 2% av det totala volymflodet. Registerdata over kemikalier som anvands vid tillverkning av textilier/klader samt analyser av tvattvatten visar att textilfibrer, mikroplastfibrer och manga miljostorande amnen nar vara reningsverk via textiltvatt. Dessa fibrer och kemiska amnen kan bidra till fororening av avloppsreningsslam som anvands for godsling av akermark eller av vattenmiljo nedstroms reningsverken.Ett av Sveriges miljomal ar En Giftfri Miljo och dess delmal innefattar bl.a. information om farliga amnen i varor (Ds 2012:23). Textilier ar en av de varugrupper som Miljomalberedningen foreslagit (SOU 2012:38) bli foremal for ett regeringsuppdrag avseende innehall av farliga amnen och riskbegransande atgarder samt frivillig miljomarkning. I det svenska miljomalsystemet ingar ocksa generationsmal om att materialkretsloppen skall vara sa fria fran farliga amnen som mojligt och att vara konsumtionsmonster av varor ska ge sa sma halso- och miljoproblem som mojligt aven i varornas tillverkningslander utanfor Sverige. Generationsmalet innebar att svensk politik behover ta hansyn till den miljo- och halsopaverkan som svensk konsumtion orsakar i andra lander. EU:s ramdirektiv for avfall (2008/96/EG) har vidare slagit fast en avfallshierarki som satter ateranvandning av uttjanta varor, t. ex. klader, fore materialatervinning av avfall.SyfteSyftet med denna studie var att undersoka i vilken utstrackning som vattentvatt av fem kladtyper (t-trojor av bomull med plasttryck, bomullsjeans, arbetsbyxor, fleecetrojor samt allvadersjackor) bidrar till forekomsten av miljogifter i slam samt i utgaende vatten fran representativt utvalda svenska reningsverk.UtforandeKlader av fem olika kladtyper, enligt specifikation fran naturvardsverket (baserat pa en tidigare studie av Swerea) koptes in fran affarer i Umea under januari 2014. Det var 8 st t-trojor av bomull med plasttryck, 3 st bomullsjeans, 2 st arbetsbyxor, 8 st fleecetrojor samt 3 st allvadersjackor.Kladerna tvattades i en vanlig tvattmaskin 2 ganger efter varandra utan att torka mellan och allt tvattvatten samlades upp. Delprov av tvattvattnet togs ut och analyserades for 126 utvalda amnena pa tre olika laboratorier (Miljokemiska Laboratoriet, Umea Universitet, Svenska Miljoinstitutet (IVL) och Stockholms Universitet (ACES)). Amnena var processkemikalier sasom pentaklorfenol, och triklosan, funktionskemikalier sasom ftalater och organofosfater samt oonskade kemikalier sasom dioxiner, klorfenoler och klorbensener.2ResultatStudien visar pa att det mangdmassigt framst ar funktionskemikalier som slapper fran kladerna vid tvatt. Det har var vantat da dessa kemikalier ar avsiktligt och oftast inte kemiskt bundet till tyget. Processkemikalier avges i mindre mangd och oonskade kemikalier sasom till exempel klorerade fenoler och bensener hittades i valdigt sma mangder i tvattvattnet oavsett vilken typ av kladesplagg som tvattats. Vare sig processkemikalierna eller de oonskade kemikalierna borde finnas i plaggen och darfor var det vantat att dessa kemikalier inte skulle hittas i samma utstrackning som funktionskemikalierna.Om man ser till detektionsfrekvensen, d.v.s. hur ofta de amnen som ingar i en amnesklass patraffas, blir bilden delvis en annan. Mer an 75% av de funktionskemikalier (38 av 50), ca 50% av funktionskemikalierna (26 av 49) och ca. 30% av processkemikalierna (8 av 27) detekterades i tvattvattenproverna.T-trojor och skaljackorna var de kladtyper som avgav storst mangd kemikalier per kg 47 mg/kg (0.005% w/w) for t-trojor foljt av 23 mg/kg (0.002% w/w) for skaljackor. Jeans, arbetsbyxor och fleecetrojor slappte mycket mindre mangd kemikalier 0.001, 0.001 and 0.0005% vid tvatt till tvattvattnet.De fem kladtyperna slappte alla bisfenol AF, organofosfater, ftalater, formaldehyd, bromerade och klorerade fenoler samt klorerade bensener till tvattvattnet vid de tva forsta tvattarna. Nagra foreningar som inte kunde detekteras i tvattvattnet var 4 stycken siloxaner, 9 stycken olika aniliner och majoriteten av de 17 dioxinerna och furanerna som ingick i studien.T-trojor slappte mer textilfibrer (0,85 mg/kg) jamfort med de andra kladtyperna. De andra kladtyperna slappte betydlig mindre fibrer vid tvatt: jeans 0,46 mg/kg, skaljackor 0,02 mg/kg, arbetsbyxor 0,07 mg/kg och fleecetrojor 0,1 mg/kg.DiskussionOm man tar hansyn till den arliga anvandningsvolymen av de olika kladestyperna avger t-trojorna den storsta mangden kemikalier (469 kg funktionella kemikalier, 0,5 kg processkemikalier och 0,07 kg oonskade kemikalier) vid de tva forsta tvattarna av plaggen. Arbetsbyxor var den kladestyp som slappte minst kemikalier (30 kg funktionella kemikalier, 7 kg processkemikalier och 0,9 g oonskade kemikalier).Ftalater och organofosfater frigjordes i stora mangder fran kladerna (302 kg och 7,6 kg) och bidrar med 50% respektive 5% vardera till vad som aterfinns i utgaende vatten och slam fran avloppsreningsverken. Klorfenoler och perfluorerade amnen frigjordes i betydligt mindre mangder (430 g och 300 g) men bidrar i teorin med mer (167% respektive 223%) an vad som aterfinns i utgaendevatten och slam fran avloppsreningsverken for respektive grupp, vilket ar orealistiskt. Brister i dataunderlaget eller degradering av fororeningar i reningsprocessen kan vara mojliga orsaker till overskattningen. Det ar dock klart att tvatt av klader ger ett betydande bidrag till vad som aterfinns i reningsverksvatten och slam.3SlutsatserKemikalier som ar forbjudna enligt t ex Reach ska naturligtvis inte forekomma i klader. Trots det sa hittas de anda ibland vid inspektion. Det ar ett stort problem eftersom kemikalierna fortfarande kan vara lagliga att anvanda i visa lander. Exempelvis ar det forbjudet att anvanda arylaminer inom EU, anda aterfinner vi en av dessa 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane i tvattvatten fran alla typer av klader i denna studie. Idag sker produktion av klader over hela varlden och det ar svart att fa information om vilka kemikalier som har anvants for ett visst plagg. Denna sparbarhet skulle behova forbattras.I den har studien har vi hittat 72 av 126 foreningar, alla icke-naturliga foreningar, i tvattvattnet. De foreningar som frigjordes i storst mangder till tvattvattnet i den har studien var BPS, ftalater (DBP, BBP, DEHP, DINP, DIDP), DINCH, organofosfater (TPP, TCEP, TCPP, TEHP, TBEP) och formaldehyd. Med hansyn taget till nettotillforseln av nya klader kommer den mangden kemikalier pa arlig basis som avges fran nya klader som tvattas de tva forsta gangerna att vara betydande.Aven om en del av de foreningar som avges fran kladerna kommer att brytas ner under behandlingen av avloppsvattnet i avloppsreningsverken sa kommer manga av dem att hamna i det utgaende vattnet eller i slammet. Dessa kommer hamna i recipienten eller dar slam anvands for att tillfora naringsamnen.Fortsatt arbeteFor att fa en annu battre bild av hur mycket kemikalier som frigors fran klader vid tvatt skulle det vara intressant att studera fler kladtyper. Det skulle ocksa vara av intresse att analysera kladerna i sig for att kunna avgora hur stor andel av det som finns i kladerna som avges vid tvatt, men ocksa vad som finns kvar i kladerna nar de sa smaningom blir textilavfall.Slutligen skulle det vara intressant att genom sa kallad non-target analysis av bade klader och tvattvatten fa veta vilka andra foreningar som forekommer i bade klader och tvattvatten. Ratt anvant skulle non-target anaysis kunna fanga upp ett brett spektrum av kemikalier och ge en totalbild av substansflodet fran textilier, via tvattvatten och reningsverk, till olika recipienter.

Syftet med studien var att studera manniskans exponering for polybromerade dibenso-p-dioxiner och dibensofuraner (PBDD/F), polyklorerade naftalener (PCN) och polyklorerade dibenso-tiofener (PCDT) o ...

As an assignment from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, a screening study of selected emerging brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and polybrominated dibenzofurans (PBDFs) has been carried out. Additional substances in the screening were polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polybrominated dibenzodioxins (PBDDs) and chlorinated dioxins and furans (PCDDs and PCDFs).The overall objective of this screening study was to determine the concentrations of selected BFRs and PBDFs in a variety of media in the Swedish environment. Additional aims were to assess possible emission sources and to highlight important transport pathways in the environment including large scale transport. An issue for the screening was also to investigate the presences of the BFRs in biota to give an indication if they pose an environmental risk. Possible human exposure was investigated by analysing BFRs in human blood samples and PBDFs in human milk samples.Measurements have been carried out both at background- and urban sites. The sampling was mainly performed at the Swedish west coast with Goteborg representing the urban area. Sediment and biota was sampled in the estuary of Gota Alv and in a background area.For identification of pathways to the environment storm water/sludge and samples from WWTPs were collected. Dust samples from different indoor environments were taken both at public spaces and in homes. Air and dust samples were collected at a recycling industry for electronic waste. Fire extinguishing water from a fire at a recycling industry was included in the sampling program.The emerging BFRs, PBDEs and PBDFs occurred in concentrations in air and dust from the recycling industry. The occurrence of BFRs at this electronic waste facility shows that electronic articles contain these chemicals. BDE-209 and DBDPE were found in highest concentrations. DBDPE has similar applications as BDE-209 and it has been marketed as a general substitute for this chemical. The occurrence of PBDFs may indicate that the BFRs are contaminated or that PBDEs are transformed to PBDFs in the recycling processes.The presence of both the emerging BFRs and PBDEs in dust collected in a new private car shows that theses flame retardants are used in textiles and plastic details in newly manufactured cars. DBDPE and BDE-209 which are used as flame retardants in textiles occurred in high concentration. The simultaneous occurrence of high levels of PBDFs indicates presence in BFR formulations.The occurrences of the included BFRs in dust from different indoor environments indicates a wide application of these chemicals in articles and household products and that diffuse emissions of BFRs from consumer products may take place in the indoor environment. The differences in the distribution among the BFRs for the different dust samples indicate that tHigher ratios of PBDFs vs. BDE-209 were found in dust from environments that are likely to contain BFR containing plastics (offices and recycling facilities) than in dust from environments containing BFR treated textile products (car and conference center interiors). This may indicate that PBDFs are formed during production or use of flame retarded plastics.The emissions of BFRs and PBDFs will take place both to air and water. BFRs and PBDFs emitted indoors to air and to settled dust may via ventilation be transported to outdoor air. The presence of these pollutants in influent, effluent and sludge from municipal WWTPs also indicate that diffusive emissions from household products occur and that these chemicals may be emitted to the environment from WWTPs. The occurrence of the BFRs and PBDD/Fs in storm water and fire extinguishing water shows that this may also be pathways to the environment.Thus, the emerging BFRs and PBDFs were generally found in samples from WWTPs, storm water, indoor air and dust, indicating that they may be emitted and transported to the environment via these sources and pathways.Several of the emerging BFRs occurred in all the included environmental matrices except in atmospheric deposition. The concentrations in samples at urban sites were higher compared to background samples.Most of the emerging BFRs were detected in urban air, in the same levels or somewhat lower than BDE-47, -100 and -99. BDE-209 occurred in the highest concentrations. One of the emerging BFRs, HBB, was detected in background air, in the same concentration range as the PBDEs. It was found both at the Swedish West coast and in the remote area in Northern Finland, which shows the potential for atmospheric long range transport for HBB.PBDD/Fs were found in all air and deposition samples. There appears to be an annual variation in both PBDD/F and PCDD/F concentrations, with higher levels during winter. Significantly elevated levels were detected in May-June 2011, which coincided with extensive forest fires in southern Russia and Ukraine.In sediments, the emerging BFRs were only detected in a sample from Gota Alv near a former industrial site where they occurred in the same concentration level as the penta-BDEs.The occurrence of emerging BFRs in biota from background sites shows that these chemicals like the PBDEs are further spread to the ecosystem. The distribution of the BFRs differed between the various species as well as among the different sampling sites.The only emerging BFR detected in human sera was PBEB, which occurred in one out of 15 samples. PCDD/Fs were found in all human milk samples, but no PBDD/Fs were detected.

The influence of soil composition (peat and clay content) on the leachability was investigated in batch leaching experiments for chemically diverse hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs: PCP, PAHs, HCB, HCHs, PCBs, and TCDD/Fs). An experimental design was applied to generate 8 diverse soil matrices, and the results were evaluated by orthogonal projections to latent structures (OPLS), as well as compound specific response surface models. Overall, the distribution coefficients (log K-d) of model HOCs were in the range of approx. 2.0-5.7. The K-d-values of HCHs, phenanthrene and PCP were positively correlated with the peat content. K-d-values of benzo(a)anthracene, HCB, and PCB 47 were positively correlated with both peat and clay content. The K-d-values of 1,3,6,8-TCDD and 1,3,6,8-TCDF were positively correlated with peat content but negatively correlated with clay content, while for PCB 153 and PCB 155 the correlations were reversed. The correlation between the K-d-values and the compounds' K-ow-values was linearly for compounds with log K-ow <6. For HOCs with log K-ow >6, the K-d-values were leveling off, possibly due to small particles in the leachates. Our study demonstrated how complex interaction between both the organic matter and clay components influences the leachability of HOCs in a compound-specific manner. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The orders of elution of all 136 tetra- to octa-chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) were determined on six gas chromatography (GC) columns. Three of these columns had ionic liquid stationary phases (SLB-IL111, SLB-IL76 and SLB-IL61; Supelco), one a liquid crystal phase (LC-50; Restek), one a chiral phase (βDEXcst; Restek) and one a low bleed non-polar phase (DB-XLB; J&W/Agilent). According to our results, the high polarity and multiple solvation interactions of the ionic liquid stationary phases offered superior resolving power to that achieved with previously evaluated columns. The SLB-IL61 and SLB-IL111 columns resolved or partially separated 106 and 100 congeners, respectively, of the 136 PCDD/Fs. The SLB-IL61 also resolved 15 and partially separated one of the seventeen 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDD/Fs. Additional congeners can be separated by complementary analyses using additional columns in a dual- or triple-column approach. For example, using a combination of the SLB-IL61 and SLB-IL111 columns all but 8 congeners would be separated, including all 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDD/Fs. Two more congeners would be separated using a combination of SLB-IL76 and a liquid crystal (SB-Smectic) column, but in this case the 2,3,7,8-TeCDF would not be resolved. Three-column combinations would give even better separation: the DB-17/Smectic/SLB-IL76 and DB-225/Smectic/SLB-IL111 combinations would separate all but 1 of the 136 PCDD/F congeners. Unfortunately, the smectic column is no longer in production. If only commercially available columns are considered, combinations of SLB-IL61 and SLB-IL111 with DB-XLB, LC-50, or DB-225 offer the best performance, with 4, 4, and 3 unresolved congeners, respectively. Moreover, in each of these cases, one of the congeners in each unresolved pair is resolved on at least one of the other columns and so a reasonable estimate of the unresolved congeners' concentrations can be obtained by subtraction. The profiling of all 136 PCDD/Fs is thus greatly facilitated by using ionic liquid columns or combinations including such columns. However, there is room for improvement in the technical performance of the evaluated ionic liquid columns: their long-term retention time stability was poor and some highly chlorinated and sterically hindered congeners underwent dehalogenation during separation.

Dioxins and PCBs are toxic, lipophilic, and persistent substances that impose a serious health threat. A major risk of exposure to these toxic substances is consumption of fish from polluted waters, such as the Baltic Sea. The aim of this study was to investigate if pH-shift processing of Baltic herring with elevated toxicity levels could be used to produce a protein isolate with low fat content and, thereby, reduced dioxin and PCB levels. Both acid (pH 2.7) and alkaline (pH 11.2) pH-shift processing were investigated and resulted in efficient reduction of fat, dioxin, and PCB levels. A reduction of 70-80% per amount of protein was determined for all of these parameters. The amounts, and thus the removal, of lipids and dioxins (R(2) = 0.952) as well as lipids and PCBs (R(2) = 0.996) were highly correlated (p < 0.01). A mass balance of the alkaline pH-shift process showed that most of the fat and pollutants were found in the floating fat emulsion layer of the first centrifugation, followed by the pellet of the first centrifugation. These data show that the pH-shift protein isolation technique can be used to process herring with elevated dioxin and PCB levels and thereby increase the usage possibilities of such fish.

Formation of polychlorinated dibenzofurans and dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD/Fs) from a model mixture of products of incomplete combustion (PICs) representative of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) flue gases, over a fixed bed of MSWI fly ash has been investigated. For comparison, a single model compound (chlorobenzene) was also briefly studied. A newly developed lab-scale system enabled the application of (very) low and stable concentrations of organic substancesof 10-6 M or lessto approach realistic conditions. Samples taken at several time intervals allowed the observation of changes in rates and patterns due to depletion of the carbon in fly ash. The model flue gas continuously produced PCDDs and PCDFs after the de novo reaction had ceased to occur. Dioxin output levels are comparable to those of "old" MSW incinerators. Replacing the PIC trace constituent phenol by its fully 13C-labeled analogue led to, e.g., PCDD with one labeled ring as prominent product, meaning that the formation is about first order in phenol, contrary to earlier assumptions. The meaning of the results for the formation of dioxins in the MSWI boiler is discussed.

Iron ore sintering is an important source of "dioxins", polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs). This paper reports on attempts to identify materials, conditions, and mechanisms responsible for PCDD/F formation (i) by investigating salient properties of ores (viz., with respect to oxidation, condensation, and chlorination of model organics) and (ii) by mimicking the industrial process on a microscale with real-life materials. Principles of Design of Experiments (DOE) are employed. The reactivities of iron ores differ greatly. Limonite/goethite "soft" ore is a very active oxidation catalyst (e.g., for benzene and phenol), a property that may be useful in cleaning up crude sintering process offgases, whereas hematite/magnetite "hard" ore is not. The latter, however strongly promotes condensation of phenol to dibenzofuran. A newly built lab-microscale sintering facility could satisfactorily imitate the large-scale process, in part or as a whole. Results obtained with realistic feed mixtures point at dioxin formation in the sinter bed at levels significant enough to explain a major part of the outputs observed in the real-life process. With approximately 8 ppm (wt) of chloride added as NaCl, the PCDD/F output doubled, but with the same proportion of chlorine administered as C2Cl4, the dioxin output was over 2 orders of magnitude larger. The use of process reverts, etc. containing chlorinated organics should therefore be avoided. PCDD/F congener patterns are also reported and compared with those observed in practice.

Flue gas and fly ash samples have a complex composition. Thus, thorough extraction and selective cleanup prior to analysis are essential. This paper presents an evaluated method for determining halogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PXDD), halogenated dibenzofurans (PXDF), chlorinated biphenyls (PCB), chlorobenzenes (CBz), -phenols (CPh), dibenzo-p-dioxins (DD), dibenzofurans (DF), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in a single sample. Since these combustion byproducts are ubiquitous, harmful environmental contaminants it is very important to obtain reliable assessments of them: especially specific PCDD/F and PCB congeners with Ah-receptor mediated toxicity. The reported method for this purpose includes techniques such as solid-phase extraction, Soxhlet-Dean-Stark extraction, cleanup using open liquid chromatographic columns, and finally GC/MS analysis/determination with quantification by the isotope dilution technique. The validation results presented here show good reproducibility for PXDD/F and PCB and are satisfactory for CPh, CBz, and PAH. An extraction efficiency test revealed that a nonpolar solvent did not completely extract a few analytes, i.e., diCPh and fluorene, which appear to require a more polar extraction agent. To pinpoint and minimize the loss of analytes, specific studies on reductions of their amounts during sample concentration were performed, showing that traditional rotary evaporation and nitrogen blow-down produce equally good results as a novel technique.

The dioxin removing capacity of the shell dedioxin system (SDDS – a Ti/V oxidative type catalyst) has been tested using the Umeå lab-scale incinerator over the temperature range 100–230°C and at space velocities of 8000 and 40,000 h−1. Other analogous organic compounds, such as PCBs, PAHs, chlorobenzenes and chlorophenols have also been investigated. Results show a high degree of dioxin removal already at 100°C (82%), which occurs mainly by adsorption. When the temperature is raised a transition towards destruction is seen and at 150°C, gas hour space velocity (GHSV) 8000 and at 230°C, GHSV 40,000 virtually all removal is by destruction. High PCDD/F destruction efficiencies are reported (>99.9%, based on I-TEQ); the other dioxin-related species and PAHs are also removed and destroyed to a significant extent. The SDDS has proved to be an effective means of destroying organic compounds in the gas phase, particularly dioxins, at temperatures as low as 150°C.