Formation of dioxins on NiO and NiCl2 at different oxygen concentrations

Model fly ash (MFA) containing activated carbon (AC) as source of carbon, NaCl as source of chlorine and either NiO or NiCl 2 as de novo catalyst, was heated for 1   h at 350   °C in a carrier gas flow composed of N 2 containing 0, 6, 10, and 21   vol.% O 2 , to study the formation of PCDD/Fs (dioxins) and its dependence on oxygen. The formation of PCDD/Fs with NiCl 2 was stronger by about two orders of magnitude than with NiO and the difference augmented with rising oxygen concentration. The thermodynamics of the NiO–NiCl 2 system were represented, X-ray absorption near edge structural (XANES) spectroscopy allowed to probe the state of oxidation of the nickel catalyst in the MFA and individual metal species were distinguished using the LCF (Linear combination fitting) technique: thus three supplemental nickel compounds (Ni 2 O 3 , Ni(OH) 2 , and Ni) were found in the fly ash. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) indicates that both Ni 2 O 3 and NiCl 2 probably played an important role in the formation of PCDD/Fs.