The Effect of Adjusting Sinter Raw Mix on Dioxins from Iron Ore Co-Sintering with Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Fly Ash

The inhibition effect of calcined lime (CaO) and limestone (CaCO3) on the formation of dioxins during iron ore co-sintering with fly ash was investigated in a sinter pot in the present work. Experimental results indicated that international total toxicity equivalent concentration of dioxins decreased from 1.4335 to 0.2922, 0.1048, 0.4562, and 0.3098 ng I-TEQ Nm−3 under four different experimental conditions. It can be concluded that 5 wt.% calcined lime with 3 wt.% limestone is the optimal addition to reduce the concentration of dioxins in flue gas, with 92.70% inhibition efficiency. Effects on dioxin distribution was also analyzed. The distribution proportion of low-chlorinated dioxins was found to increase, while that of high-chlorinated dioxins decreased, except for octachlorianted dibenzo-p-dioxins (OCDD). The reason is that the consumption of HCl not only inhibits the de novo synthesis, but also dramatically promotes the condensation and dechlorination to produce more tetrachlorianted dibenzo-p-dioxins and octachlorianted dibenzo-p-dioxins through precursors. Finally, condensation, dichlorination, and inhibition mechanisms of dioxins during co-sintering with municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash are proposed.