CEM - Abstract

Abstract Information :

One of the key changes in the industrial emissions directive (IED) in terms of monitoring emissions in the 2019 waste incineration best available techniques reference document (WI BREF) was adding new requirements in relation to the monitoring of mercury and dioxin emissions. Mercury - BAT 4 in the WI BREF - requires continuous emissions monitoring for mercury unless burning waste with a “proven low and stable mercury content” in which case plants can instead do periodic monitoring at a minimum frequency of 6 months or long-term sampling. This requirement has been interpreted in various ways throughout Europe. For example, in the UK, on the basis of the results of periodic mercury monitoring being consistently below a threshold of 10 µg/Nm3 in line with their documented sampling protocol, the site is deemed to have proven that it processes waste with a low and stable Hg content. In other countries, it has been deemed that certain processes cannot prove they process waste with low and stable Hg content, therefore creating a need to install continuous Hg analysers to comply with permit requirements. Dioxins - BAT 4 in the WI BREF - requires dioxins and furans (PCDD/F) to be monitored using long-term (continuous) sampling, unless emissions levels are proven to be sufficiently stable. If a site can prove its emissions are sufficiently stable, plants can instead do periodic monitoring at a minimum frequency of 6 months. As with Hg, this requirement has been interpreted differently from one country to another. Some countries due to their own legislation in relation to dioxins, require long term samplers to be used on all sites for which dioxin is a deemed parameter of interest under IED. Starting with Hg and finishing with dioxin measurement, this talk will use real world examples of installations for continuous monitoring for mercury and the long-term sampling of dioxins. Not only have they helped sites prove compliance with the new IED limit requirements but also helped make their processes become more efficient by helping them understand their waste streams and therefore emissions profiles in more detail. The talk will highlight practical considerations what to take into account when starting to comply with these new requirements.