Formation of dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans in homogenous gas-phase reactions of phenols

The operation of Municipal Waste Incinerators (MWI’s) results in the emission of organochlorine compounds including trace amounts of hazardous polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans. Although the presence of PCDDs and PCDFs in stack gases and on fly ash is well established, little is known about the mechanisms and kinetics of formation and the phase(s) — e.g. pyrolysis, burning, or fly-ash catalysis — in which these compounds and/or their precursors are formed. Proper insight into these chemical features may learn how to improve a MWI installation so as to reduce, or eliminate, these emissions.