Jump to main content.

Organics

APTB's program in organics research focuses on combustion-derived products of incomplete combustion (PICs) with current emphasis on halogenated air toxics [such as chlorinated dioxins/furans (PCDD/F), mixed chlorinated/brominated compounds, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)]. This focus is unique for all government, combustion research laboratories. Program objectives consist of:

In FY99, the following project areas support these objectives:

Emission characterization of rotary kiln incineration of Br/Cl wastes to form mixed Br/Cl PCDD/Fs, and other aromatics. This study supports the Office of Solid Waste's (OSW's) efforts to characterize organic PICs from industrial sources for Phase II of the MACT rulemaking. POC: Paul Lemieux.

Emission characterization of boilers and industrial furnaces for formation of chlorinated PCDD/F and PCB PICs. This study supports OSW's future efforts to characterize organic PICs from industrial sources for Phase II of the MACT rulemaking by understanding what conditions and facility characteristics lead to PCDD/F formation. POC: Brian Gullett

Development of the application of resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) for measurement of PCDD/F and other trace organic air toxics. This study aims to develop this method for fundamental mechanistics studies, for process feedback and pollution prevention, and for relevant-time monitoring of emissions for public assurance and community tracking. This study supports regulatory efforts of OSW and OAQPS, OPPTS and is being done in conjunction with the Department of Energy's Mixed Waste Focus Area and ORD/NCERQA and NCEA. POC: Brian Gullett

Emission characterization of non-industrial combustion sources for their potential to emit air toxics such as PCDD/F, PCBs, and ozone depleting substances such as methyl bromide and methyl chloride. This work will confirm and do preliminary characterization of emissions from simulated backyard waste burning, forest fires, and biomass combustion. This work supports efforts by OPPTS to characterize the national PCDD/F and PCB emission inventory, is of key interest to the UN POP negotiations, and biomass/forest fire emissions are of interest to OAR for global climate issues. POCs: Brian Gullett, C.W. Lee, Paul Lemieux

Development of On-line Gas Chromatograph (OLGC) as continuous emission monitor. The OLGC has several applications of interest to the program offices including: 1) a CEM for low molecular weight VOC surrogates for dioxins and furans; 2) a screening tool for sources to be covered under MACT; 3) a research tool to provide quick system diagnostic and optimizations. POCs: Paul Lemieux, Jeff Ryan

Development of methodologies to identify and quantify PICs including methods to determine toxic and total PCBs, polychlorinated naphthalenes, and mono-triCDDs/Fs. Additional work to identify unknown PICs and develop PIC target analyte lists includes development of Multidimensional Gas Chromatography (MDGC), a technique to improve the quality of PIC mass spectra. This work supports OSW regulatory efforts with respect to trial burn guidance. POCs: Jeff Ryan, Paul Lemieux, Brian Gullett

Isotopic Studies of Carbon Sources During Halogenated Organic Formation is a fundamental study that will discern the role of unburnt gaseous fuel organics and solid, ash-borne carbon in the formation of complex halogenated PICs. This program is an ORD-funded internal grant that has broad application to all of the above pollutant formation mechanisms. POC: Brian Gullett

Office of Research & Development | National Risk Management Research Laboratory

Local Navigation

Jump to main content.