Chlorinated dioxins and furans as trace products of combustion: Some theoretical aspects |
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| Authors: | H Huang A Buekens |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Chemical Engineering and Industrial Chemistry , Free University of Brussels , Pleinlaan 2, Brussels, B‐1050, Belgium;2. Department of Chemical Engineering and Industrial Chemistry , Free University of Brussels , Pleinlaan 2, Brussels, B‐1050, Belgium Phone: +32(2)629 3244 Fax: +32(2)629 3244 E-mail: abuekens@vub.ac.be. |
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| Abstract: | Recent advances in combustion theories are reviewed, especially the detailed mechanisms of hydrocarbon oxidation, formation of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon from aliphatic fuels, and the behavior of halogens in flames. Experimental observations of polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) formation in combustion of aliphatic fuels such as acetylene, ethylene and methane in the presence of hydrogen chloride are summarized. Then, from combustion chemistry considerations a reaction mechanism for T4CDD/F formation in the CH4/ HCl/O2 system is developed. This mechanism consists of elementary reactions describing the main oxidation steps, formation of chlorinated C1‐ to C4‐species, formation of the first aromatic ring, and T4CDD/F formation. The mechanism may be extended to other hydrocarbon fuels and higher PCDD/F homologues. Possible relevance of the mechanism to the “trace chemistries of fire hypothesis”; is discussed. |
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| Keywords: | PCDD/F PAH aliphatic fuel combustion trace chemistries of fire hypothesis |
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