US EPA

1056618 

Journal Article 

Estimation and characterization of PCDD/Fs, dl-PCBs, PCNs, HxCBz and PeCBz emissions from magnesium metallurgy facilities in China 

Nie, Z; Zheng, M; Liu, W; Zhang, B; Liu, G; Su, G; Lv, P; Xiao, K 

2011 

Yes 

Chemosphere
ISSN: 0045-6535
EISSN: 1879-1298 

85 

11 

1707-1712 

English 

22024095 

10.1016/j.chemosphere.2011.09.016 

WOS:000298575100008 

Magnesium production is considered to be one potential source of unintentional persistent organic pollutants (unintentional POPs). However, studies on the emissions of unintentional POPs from magnesium metallurgy are still lacking. Emissions of unintentional POPs, such as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs), polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), hexachlorobenzene (HxCBz) and pentachlorobenzene (PeCBz) are covered under the Stockholm Convention. In this study, these emissions were investigated through a magnesium smelting process. Stack gas and fly ash samples from a typical magnesium plant in China were collected and analyzed to estimate the emissions of unintentional POPs from magnesium metallurgy. Emissions factors of 412 ng TEQ t(-1) for PCDD/Fs, 18.6 ng TEQ t(-1) for dl-PCBs, 3329 μg t(-1) for PCNs, 820 μg t(-1) for HxCBz, and 1326 μg t(-1) for PeCBz were obtained in 2009. Annual emissions from magnesium metallurgy in China were estimated to be 0.46 g WHO-TEQ for PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs, 1651 g for PCNs, 403 g for HxCBz and 653 g for PeCBz, respectively. 

Unintentional POPs; Magnesium smelting; Emissions factor; Inventory