Direct observation of the formation of aromatic pollutants in waste incineration flue gases by on-line REMPI-TOFMS laser mass spectrometry.

On-line REMPI-TOFMS laser mass spectrometry (Resonance Enhanced Multi-Photon Ionization-Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry) was used to monitor combustion and pyrolysis byproducts from industrial combustion processes, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and monochlorobenzene in the flue gas of an industrial 22 MW hazardous waste incineration plant. Sampling at different places in the flue gas stream revealed the complexity of the processes responsible for the formation of the different chemical species, while time resolved measurements depicted the emission dynamics.