CHARACTERISTICS OF MUNICIPAL SOLID-WASTE INCINERATOR FLY-ASH PROMOTING THE FORMATION OF POLYCHLORINATED DIOXINS

Physical and chemical characteristics of fly ash samples from thirteen U.S. MSW incinerators were tested for correlations with PCDD concentrations. Strong correlations may indicate catalytic activity in the de novo synthesis of PCDDs. Copper is strongly correlated with PCDD concentration but carbon and surface area are not. Other correlations include positive effects by sulfur, chlorine, sodium, potassium, and zinc and negative effects by silicon and aluminum.