IMR-MS on-line measurements in the exhaust gas of a municipal solid waste incineration pilot plant (Tamara)

The major inorganic components identified by ion-molecule reaction mass spectrometry (IMR-MS) raw gas measurements performed at the TAMARA facility include O₂, H₂O, CO₂, HCl, SO₂ and NO Higher concentrations of organic components, i.e. organic substance amounts > 10 m:1/m³ are not observed during normal operation. The concentrations of acetic and formic acids measured in the raw gas by the IMR-MS method range between “not detectable” (i.e. < 0.5 mg/Nm³) and 5 mg/Nm³. A relationship to the incineration parameters has not yet been established In case of operation failures, which are indicated by a CO increase, other organic compounds, e.g. acetaldehyde or benzene can be identified by the IMR-MS method Hence, the results obtained by IMR-MS in on-line emission control of a waste incineration gas are far more precise than the FID values. By IMR-MS measurements above the waste bed, a multitude of strong signals are recorded, which indicates the presence of a number of organic compounds in high concentrations (10 – 10000 mg/Nm³). A quantification during a “snapshot” has been accomplished for benzene (4000 mg/Nm³) and toluene (300 mg/Nm³).