Pollutant emissions from the pyrolysis and combustion of viscoelastic memory foam

•Pollutants evolved during thermal degradation of VMF have been studied.•Nitrogenated semivolatile compounds, in additions to PAHs, have been determined.•Low toxicity levels were obtained at all experimental conditions.•Important formation factors of NH3, HCN and NO were detected.

Thermal degradation of viscoelastic memory foam (VMF) in a horizontal laboratory scale reactor has been studied. Pyrolysis and combustion experiments under sub-stoichiometric conditions were performed at four different temperatures (550 °C, 650 °C, 750 °C and 850 °C) for the determination of pollutants. Analyses of gas and semivolatile compounds, including polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorobiphenyls (dl-PCBs) are shown. From the results, it was deduced that pyrolytic conditions favor the formation of PAHs, methane, ethylene, NH3 and dl-PCBs, whereas the presence of oxygen involves a higher emission of PCDD/Fs and simple N-containing compounds such as NO and HCN. The toxic levels calculated for PAHs, PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs in all cases were low confirming that the incineration of VMF mattress waste could be a good option for waste management. Nevertheless, relatively high emissions of NO, NH3 and HCN were obtained and their reduction must be considered.

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