Mohamed, Khairulmazidah (2025) Investigation Of Influencing Factors On Dioxins Formation From Combustion Of Peat In Malaysia In The Presence Of Different Precursors And Catalysts. PhD thesis, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
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Abstract
Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), collectively referred to as dioxins, are toxic compounds generated as unintentional byproducts of organic material combustion. While industrial emissions have significantly decreased since 2000, contributions from forest fires, domestic combustion, and vehicular sources remain concerning. Frequent peat fires in Southeast Asia may have leadingly contributed to the dioxins level in the environment. Peat, having high amount of organic material and possible precursor and catalysts for dioxins formation, is highly susceptible to dioxin production during combustion. This study aims to determine the physico-chemical properties, precursor compounds, catalysts, and congener profiles of dioxins of Peninsular Malaysian tropical peats at different depths and eventually determine the congener of emissions resulting from the combustion of selected peat samples. Thirty-eight raw peat samples were collected from ten peatland areas in Peninsular Malaysia at depths ranging from surface level to 200 cm. These samples underwent comprehensive analysis for various parameters, including pH, water content, organic matter content, elemental composition, FTIR characterisation, phenols, chlorophenols, chlorobenzenes, humic acid, anions, and existing PCDD/Fs in the samples. Twelve samples were subsequently selected for laboratory combustion experiments using a modified reactor, with resultant emissions analysed for dioxins by GC-HRMS. PCDD/F concentrations in raw peat consistently decrease with depth, with surface layers containing up to 10 times higher concentrations than deeper layers (ranging from 0.8257 to 10.8584 WHO₂₀₂₂ TEQ ng/kg), suggesting atmospheric deposition as the primary contamination source.
| Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | Q Science > Q Science (General) |
| Divisions: | Pusat Racun Negara (National Poison Centre) > Thesis |
| Depositing User: | Mr Noor Azizan Abu Hashim |
| Date Deposited: | 09 Mar 2026 02:44 |
| Last Modified: | 09 Mar 2026 02:44 |
| URI: | http://eprints.usm.my/id/eprint/63738 |
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