Union Carbide waste: 2nd incineration trial ends; levels of two toxic chemicals under study

Preliminary data shows that emissions of seven pollutants were within prescribed limits. These range from particulate matter and sulphur dioxide to total organic carbon and carbon monoxide. During the first trial, the feed rate or rate of incineration was 135 kg/hour and in the second trial run, it was 180 kg/hour.

The second trial began on the morning of March 6, Thursday and ended at 7 pm on Saturday.

On Saturday, the trial was halted for 22 minutes as an internet shutdown affected collection of continuous emission monitoring data.

Even as the values of seven pollutants and gases were within prescribed values, emission analysis of toxic chemicals dioxins and furans is yet to be completed. MPPCB’s regional director Shrinivas Dwivedi said, “The samples of dioxins and furans have been collected and it will take at least a fortnight for the results.”

Dioxins and furans are harmful toxic chemicals emitted during hazardous waste incineration, and emissions can cross safe limits if waste incineration inside the electric kilns and chambers is incomplete.

On Friday, the Pithampur Bachao Samiti citizens group had raised questions about the emissions monitoring during the trials, especially regarding hydrogen fluoride and total organic carbon (TOC) levels which were briefly over prescribed limits during the first trial on March 2 and March 1, respectively. MPPCB stated that there was a breakage in the pump belt of the incinerator’s spray dryer which caused the TOC to increase to 20.69 milligrams/normal cubic metre on March 1 as against the prescribed limit of 20 and later to 44.46 milligrams/normal cubic metre.