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"real time" dioxin detector

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envs

Civil/Environmental
Oct 10, 2002
3
Is there such a thing is a device that can monitor dioxin levels "real time?" As in, it can be placed at the emission outlet of an incinerator, for instance, and dioxin emission levels can be measured from time to time?
And if there are, which would be a recommended one?

And are there any environmental effects (negative) that may arise from a facility that utilizes municipal waste as the main source of energy generation?

Thank you kindly.
 
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Prior to proceeding visit an existing facility and ask tough questions. Visit the Columbus, Ohio power plant near Circilleville, Ohio.

Several cities (Columbus, Ohio for one) have built electric generating facilities which produce electricity by firing a boiler with industrial waste. Most of those boilers were curtailed, limited, or shut down because of exceeding the allowable effluent levels of heavy metals. Some units were allowed to restart due to political pressure rather than technological improvements.

Everything that goes into the boiler must come out as either an air effluent, an evaporated liquid (HxO) or a solid (ash). Heavy airborne metal effluent exceed the allowable limit.

The challenge is to remove metal from the fuel (industrial waste) prior to combustion. The city of Columbus implemented a grading system for waste disposal. Paper in one bag, plastic in one bag, wood and tree limbs cut in 4' sections and placed in another bag, metal in one bag, oops, aluminum in one bag, carbon in another bag - how many households have the time and technical wherewithall to comply? None. And what did the Columbus Garbage Disposal do with all those grades of bags?
Answer: Threw it in one pile until separate trash piles could be managed. It never happened.
Magnets removed the magnetic materials. What about the aluminum cans, paper/aluminum foil wrappings, old batteries, mercury thermometers, etc.
 
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