Dioxins and furans are regulated combustion by-products that may be present in industrial flue gas streams generated during waste treatment and thermal process applications. Effective flue gas treatment systems are required to control particulate, acid gases, dioxins, and associated pollutants before discharge to atmosphere. Glosfume references dry scrubbing processes using activated carbon injection and sodium bicarbonate injection for the removal of dioxins and acid gases from high-temperature gas streams.
High-efficiency downstream particulate filtration forms an important part of these gas cleaning systems. Glosfume supplies ceramic and catalytic hot gas filtration systems for demanding industrial filtration applications involving fine particulate and high-temperature process gas.
What are Dioxins and Furans?
Dioxins and furans are chlorinated organic compounds that may be formed unintentionally during combustion and thermal industrial processes. These compounds can be present within flue gas streams generated during waste treatment and other industrial combustion applications.
Dioxins and furans are typically discussed together as a pollutant group within industrial emissions control and flue gas treatment systems.
How are Dioxins and Furans Formed?
Formation During Combustion Processes
Dioxins and furans may form during industrial combustion and thermal treatment processes depending on process conditions, gas composition, and combustion behaviour. Flue gas treatment systems are therefore used to reduce emissions before discharge to atmosphere.
Applications including energy-from-waste and hazardous waste incineration may require downstream treatment processes for dioxin and furan control.
Importance of Downstream Gas Treatment
Industrial gas cleaning systems combine combustion control with downstream particulate filtration and dry scrubbing processes. Glosfume references activated carbon injection and dry scrubbing systems for dioxin and acid gas removal.
Regulatory Limits for Dioxin & Furan Emissions
The Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) sets an emission limit of 0.1 ng TEQ/Nm³ for dioxins and furans in waste incineration applications regulated under IED Annex VI.
Compliance monitoring is performed using recognised sampling and analytical procedures including EN 1948 methods for dioxin and furan emissions measurement from stationary source processes.
Industrial facilities operating under environmental permits may require a combination of combustion control and downstream emissions treatment systems to support compliance with emissions limits.
Dioxin & Furan Control Techniques
Primary Combustion Control
Combustion conditions influence the formation of dioxins and furans within industrial thermal processes. Process design and combustion control therefore form part of the overall emissions control strategy.
Activated Carbon Injection
Glosfume references activated carbon injection as part of dry scrubbing systems used for dioxin removal. Activated carbon is introduced into the gas stream upstream of the filtration stage and is subsequently removed by the downstream filter system.
Activated carbon injection may also be applied alongside dry sorbent injection systems for combined gas treatment applications. Further information is available in our article on dry sorbent injection and activated carbon.
Catalytic Filter Elements
Glosfume references catalytic filtration systems capable of combined particulate filtration and catalytic treatment within a single filtration stage.
Catalytic filter elements may be applied in suitable process configurations where combined filtration and catalytic treatment are required.
Temperature and Process Conditions
Process temperature, gas composition, and overall system design influence flue gas treatment performance and filtration system selection. Glosfume ceramic filtration media can withstand temperatures up to approximately 1000°C depending on process conditions and application requirements.
Ceramic Filter Elements and Dioxin Control
High-efficiency downstream particulate filtration is required to capture particulate and material associated with dry scrubbing processes. Glosfume references ceramic filtration systems used in demanding high-temperature industrial applications.
Glosfume ceramic filter elements are designed for high-temperature particulate filtration applications involving fine particulate and process-derived contaminants.
Glosfume states that ceramic filter media can withstand temperatures up to approximately 1000°C and are suitable for high-temperature filtration environments where conventional bag-type filters may fail.
Catalytic Filtration and Combined Treatment
Catalytic filtration systems combine particulate filtration with catalytic treatment within a single process stage. In suitable applications, catalytic systems may support combined particulate filtration and gas treatment.
Glosfume references catalytic filter systems used for high-temperature industrial filtration applications involving particulate and gaseous pollutant treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the IED emission limit for dioxins and furans?
The Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) sets a dioxin and furan emission limit of 0.1 ng TEQ/Nm³ for waste incineration and co-incineration applications regulated under IED Annex VI.
How does activated carbon injection remove dioxins from flue gas?
Activated carbon injection introduces powdered activated carbon into the gas stream upstream of the filtration stage. The downstream filtration system then captures the activated carbon together with associated particulate and reaction products.
Can ceramic filter elements achieve dioxin and furan compliance?
Ceramic filtration systems may form part of a complete flue gas treatment process designed for dioxin and furan emissions control. Overall compliance performance depends on total system design, process conditions, combustion behaviour, and downstream treatment configuration.
What is the difference between primary and secondary dioxin control?
Primary control refers to combustion and process conditions intended to limit pollutant formation within the combustion process itself. Secondary control refers to downstream treatment systems including dry scrubbing, activated carbon injection, and particulate filtration.
How do catalytic filter elements treat dioxins and furans?
Catalytic filtration systems combine particulate filtration with catalytic treatment within a single filtration stage. Glosfume references catalytic filtration systems for combined treatment applications in industrial process gas cleaning.
Talk to Glosfume About Dioxin-Compliant Filtration
If you are specifying the filtration stage of a flue gas treatment system involving dioxin and furan control, Glosfume can advise on ceramic and catalytic filtration configurations suitable for high-temperature process conditions.
Glosfume states that the company had completed more than 1000 installations worldwide across a range of industrial filtration applications.
To discuss your application, visit the contact page.
