Metals as Catalysts during the Formation and Decomposition of Chlorinated Dioxins and Furans in Incineration Processes

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlo-rinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are found on fly ash and in flue gas of municipal waste incinerators. Municipal waste incinerators seem to be the most important source for PCDDs and PCDFs emitted into the air during the last de-cades. PCDD/F formation takes place in the cooler zones (250 C–450 C) of a municipal waste incinerator, at the electrostatic precipitator. Copper is an important compo-nent of the fly ash that can catalyse the formation of PCDDs and PCDFs. Inhibition of the formation can be done by complexation of the metals (Cu) with EDTA or NTA