THE IMPACT OF TURBULENT MIXING ON THE OXIDATION OF A CHLORINATED-HYDROCARBON

Combustion of chlorinated wastes can lead to the formation of hazardou s byproducts. Rates of mixing of fuel and air in combustion systems ca n have:an impact on the composition of the byproducts. Methyl chloride and methane were burned in a turbulent diffusion flame in a combustio n wind tunnel with a coflow of air. Reynolds numbers were varied from 3500 to 7200. A water-cooled sampling probe was used to obtain gas sam ples from within the flame at a number of locations and at various Rey nolds numbers. The postflame gases and particulate matter were trapped above the flames with sorbent tubes and filters. The samples were des orbed and analyzed for aromatic species and other trace products of in complete combustion. Destruction of the methyl chloride was essentiall y complete for all the Reynolds numbers that were studied. Small amoun ts of low molecular weight chlorinated compounds were found within the flame and in the postflame gases. The major chlorinated species in th e postflame gases was chloronaphthalene. Low Reynolds number flames we re found to yield larger amounts of aromatic and chlorinated aromatic species than the high Reynolds number flames. Fluoranthene was present in greater amounts on the soot particles at fewer Reynolds numbers, s uggesting that the rate of mixing of reactants could have an impact on the toxicity of the combustion byproducts.