ASSESSMENT OF ORGANIC MICROPOLLUTANTS (PCDD/FS AND PCBS) FROM BIOMASS COMBUSTION IN A SMALL CHP FACILITY

Biomass combustion is a process widely used for heat and power generation through use of different types of plants provided with systems for flue gas cleaning in order to ensure a low environmental impact. Emissions from biomass combustion concern different types of compounds, from CO2, CO, SOx, NOx, particulate matter (PM) to persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Obviously, emissions are linked to the biomass characteristics and to the operating parameters of combustion facility. The aim of this work concerns the evaluation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) produced from combustion tests of elm and poplar. Results showed that PCDD/Fs and PCBs were lower than 1 pg ITEQ/Nm(3) and these value are very low if compared with those referred to combustion of woody biomass in facilities provided with high efficiency systems for flue gas cleaning.