Pollutant formation in the pyrolysis and combustion of Automotive Shredder Residue

•Thermal decomposition of Automotive Shredder Residue is studied.•Important differences were found at the different experimental conditions.•Easy destruction of light hydrocarbons is done in the presence of oxygen.•Chlorobenzenes, chlorophenols and bromophenols yields are almost negligible.•The greatest yields of PCDD/Fs, dl-PCBs and PBDD/Fs are obtained at 600 °C.

The present work has been carried out to verify the feasibility of thermal valorization of an automobile shredder residue (ASR). With this aim, the thermal decomposition of this waste has been studied in a laboratory scale reactor, analyzing the pollutants emitted under different operating conditions. The emission factors of carbon oxides, light hydrocarbons, PAHs, PCPhs, PCBzs, PBPhs, PCDD/Fs, dioxin-like PCBs and PBDD/Fs were determined at two temperatures, 600 and 850 °C, and under different oxygen ratios ranging from 0 (pure pyrolysis) to 1.5 (over-stoichiometric oxidation). After analyzing all these compounds, we conclude that thermal valorization of ASR is a clean way to treat this waste.