Re: Is dioxin created when chlorine is inject into an aluminum smelter?

[Alan Muller <amuller@dca.net>]

At 01:46 PM 12/16/99 -0500, Progressive Dane wrote:
>I'm looking for any help on the following situation:
>
>A local aluminum and zinc smelting and die casting manufacturer wants to
>increase the amount of chlorine gas it injects into its RCI
>reverberatory aluminum melt furnace. While in the past, the manufacturer
>admitted to using dirty scrap such as used radiators, now they contend
>they only use "clean" aluminum (ingots, sows, scarp from the machines &
>customer returns). The Wisconsin Dept of natural resources has decided
>to accept this at face value.
>
>Is there potential to emit dioxin from the furnace, which operates in
>the 1300-1400 degree Fahrenheit range? They inject up to 35 lbs of
>chlorine gas per hour, depending on the magnesium content of the
>aluminum. The manufacturer wants to increase to up to 90 lbs per hour.
>The furnace is vented to a baghouse and then out a stack with no
>pollution control technology.

You might want to refine the question a bit, because dioxins might not be emitted from the furnace as such, but might be formed downstream as the gasses cool.  The answer probably depends on whether there are organic materials present.  Can you obtain a complete inventory of all substances involved in the process?

Alan Muller

Alan Muller, Executive Director
Green Delaware
Box 69
Port Penn, DE 19731 USA
(302)834-3466
fax (302)836-3005 
greendel@dca.net
http://members.dca.net/greendel/