Number concentration and chemical composition of ultrafine and nanoparticles from WTE (waste to energy) plants

Stack field testing at four municipal waste-to-energy (WTE) plants was conducted to investigate total number concentrations and size distributions in a size range extended towards the evaluation of ultrafine (UFP) and nanoparticle (NP) fractions with diameters smaller than 100 nm and 50 nm, respectively. Measurements were performed with a specifically designed sampling line, equipped with a dilution system and a particle counting device for measuring both primary particles in raw flue gases at stack conditions and the contributions of condensable origin, arising from their cooling and dilution immediately following stack release into the atmosphere. Average concentration levels detected ranged between 5 × 103–6 × 105 cm− 3: for all sampling conditions, ultrafine fractions largely prevailed in number size distributions, with average diameters constantly located in the nanoparticle size range. Stack concentrations appeared to be influenced by the design and process configuration of flue gas cleaning systems, with most significant effects related to the presence of wet scrubbing units and the baghouse operating temperature of dry removal processes. Chemical speciation (i.e., trace metals, anions and cations, carbonaceous compounds) of size-resolved particulate fractions was performed on one of the plants. NP and UFP composition was essentially in accordance with the most important fuel and combustion process characteristics: in particular, the presence of chlorides and metal species was consistent with the respective waste feed content and their expected behavior during combustion and flue gas cleaning processes.

► Particle number concentration and size distribution from waste-to-energy plants.
► More than 90% of particles are in the ultrafine (diameter < 100 nm) fraction.
► Wet flue gas cleaning systems may enhance the number of emitted particles.
► Lower baghouse operation temperature may lower the number of emitted particles.
► Great contribution of metals and chloride to nanoparticles (diameter < 50 nm).