The possibilities to identify combusted fuel based on an analysis of ash from local heating

Abstract

Combustion of undesirable components with a high calorific value (waste: plastics, rubber, chipboard, plywood etc.) contribute to an increased emissions of PM particles. The possibility of identification of non-desirable fuels was verified by analysis of unburned carbon from bottom ash by means of pyrolysis-GC/MS. Compounds derived from thermal conversion of main wood components in the unburned carbon are formed by aldehydes, ketones, alkanes, alkenes, alkanoates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, compounds containing benzene, compounds containing phenol and nitrogen. Unburned carbon from plywood/chipboard contains compounds with nitrogen (heterocyclic and aliphatic) in increased concentrations (33-51 ng/mg) compared with unburned carbon from pure wood (7-12 ng/mg). The concentrations increased almost two times were proved for compounds containing phenols in unburned carbon from wood composite. Total amount of determined organic compounds is also almost two times higher than that contained in unburned carbon from wood. The indication of waste wood combustion from unburned carbon is possible using the ratio: phenol/(2-methylphenol + 4-methylphenol).