10.1007/s10163-017-0652-y">
 

Characterizing Emissions from Open Burning of Military Food Waste and Ration Packaging Compositions

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-2018

Abstract

Emissions from open burning of military food waste and ration packaging compositions were characterized in response to health concerns from open burning disposal of waste, such as at military forward operating bases. Emissions from current and prototype Meals, Ready-to-Eat (MREs), and material options for their associated fiberboard packaging were quantified to assess contributions of the individual components. MREs account for 67–100% of the particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans (PCDDs/PCDFs) emissions when burned in unison with the current fiberboard container and liner. The majority of the particles emitted from these burns are of median diameter 2.5 µm (PM2.5). Metal emission factors were similar regardless of waste composition. Measurements of VOCs and PAHs indicate that targeted replacement of MRE components may be more effective in reducing emissions than variation of fiberboard-packaging types. Despite MRE composition variation, equivalent emission factors for PM, PAH, VOC, and PCDD/PCDF were seen. Similarly, for fiberboard packaging, composition variations exhibited essentially equivalent PM, PAH, VOC, and PCDD/PCDF emission factors amongst themselves. This study demonstrated a composition-specific analysis of waste burn emissions, assessing the impact of waste component substitution using military rations.

Comments

This article is accessible by subscription, via the DOI link below.

Funding note: This work was funded by the Department of Defense’s Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP, Project WP-201218).

Author Dirk Yamamoto was co-affiliated with STS Systems Integration LLC at the time of publication.

Source Publication

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management (ISSN 1438-4957 | eISSN 1611-8227)

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS