Sukh Sidhu, Moshan Kahandawala, Anne Chauvin, Alexander Morgan, 

Saikumar Chalivendra, Kavya Muddasani, Anupriya Krishnan, Aditya Nagulapalli

Sustainable Environmental Technologies Group

Energy and Environmental Engineering Division

University of Dayton Research Institute

300 College Park, Dayton, OH 45469-0141

Brian Gullett, Johanna Aurell, Abderrahmane Touati*, Dennis Tabor

U. S. Environmental Protection Agency

National Risk Management Research Laboratory

Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

*ARCADIS U.S., Inc. 

4915 Prospectus Drive, Suite F

Durham, NC, 27711

Toxic Air Emissions from Burning Wood and 

Agricultural Plastics – A Cone Calorimeter Study
Objective

 Characterize emissions

 Wood commonly used in boilers in the great lakes 

and upstate NY region 

 Waste Agricultural Plastics

 Investigate use of the Cone Calorimeter as a tool to 

obtain data on emissions from biomass and waste 

combustion 
Experimental System

Cone Calorimeter

Fire testing equipment 

that mimics well ventilated 

combustion under a 

constant heat flux and air 

flow

Cone Calorimeter data:

 Mass loss rate

 Smoke number

 CO/CO2 production 

rates

 O2 consumption rate

 Temp. and Pressure

 Heat Release Rate 

(HRR) and other 

flammability data

Sampling Train: 1) Iso-kinetic Sampling Train 2) Total Sampling Train
Schematic of Total Sampling Train

T2 T1

T3

T4

T5
PUF cartridges

Experimental System

Total Sampling Train Coupled with UDRI Cone Calorimeter

Cone Heater

•4 PUFs - 2” Thick x 4” Diameter

•3 Filters - 8” x 10” 

Modified Method TO9A

Pump outlet line connected to exhaust duct

Cooling water 

system

Impinger

To pump

Condenser Filter

Chiller

Cone Heater

Total Sampling Train

PUF
Experimental Conditions

 Sample size ~ 10 x 10 cm (ASTM)

 Air flow rate of 15 l/s (900 LPM)

 Constant heat flux of 50 kW/m2 (cone temperature of ~760°C)

 Total gas flow was sampled
Types of Wood Tested

Ash Sugar Maple

Pine Red Oak

Wood Pellets 
UDRI – Cone Calorimeter 

Total Mass Burned per Sample

Type of Wood Burned Total Mass Burned per Sample (g)

Ash 175.3

Sugar Maple 178.6

Pine 130.6

Red Oak 156.9

Wood Pellets 173.8
Note: Pine Wood, Red Oak and Pellets data obtained from EPA

Type of Wood C, wt% Cl, ppm S, wt% Ash, wt% Moisture, wt%

Ash 51.20 0.3 <0.05 0.75 9.00

Sugar Maple 50.03 1 <0.05 1.10 9.00

Pine 51.72 36 <0.05 0.44 9.68

Red Oak 48.70 38 <0.05 1.46 22.52

Pellets 50.10 44 <0.50 0.52 7.24

UDRI – Cone Calorimeter 

Analyses of Wood Samples
UDRI – Cone Calorimeter 

Heat Release Data and Flammability

Sample # Time to Peak Time to Time to Peak Average Total Heat Avg. Effective MAHRE FIGRA

Description Ignition HRR Peak HRR HRR - Tig HRR Release Heat of Comb.

 (s) (kW/m2) (s) (s) (kW/m2) (MJ/m2) (MJ/kg) (kW/m2)

Ash 1 34 220 58 24 123 162.1 11.33 125 3.79

2 36 249 58 22 135 161.4 11.41 134 4.29

3 48 260 66 18 130 162.2 11.22 131 3.94

STDEV 8 21 5 3 6 0.4 0.10 5 0.25

Average Data 39 243 61 21 130 161.9 11.32 130 4.01

Pine 1 5 295 29 24 118 165.7 16.67 198 10.17

2 18 263 38 20 110 136.1 13.79 146 6.93

3 7 260 34 27 124 165.1 16.55 168 7.64

STDEV 7 19 5 4 7 16.9 1.63 26 1.70

Average Data 10 273 34 24 117 155.6 15.67 170 8.24

Sugar Maple 1 36 252 55 19 133 170.8 11.98 140 4.58

2 30 254 59 29 108 166.9 11.67 141 4.30

3 32 275 63 31 128 164.2 11.60 144 4.37

STDEV 3 13 4 6 14 3.3 0.20 2 0.15

Average Data 33 260 59 26 123 167.3 11.75 142 4.42

Red Oak 1 28 236 47 19 110 160.0 11.80 130 5.02

2 34 223 58 24 111 161.6 11.62 125 3.85

3 28 218 50 22 111 167.1 12.12 122 4.35

STDEV 3 9 6 3 1 3.7 0.25 4 0.59

Average Data 30 226 52 22 111 162.9 11.85 126 4.41

Wood 1 52 485 612 560 229 163.9 12.37 230 0.79

Pellets 2 52 461 636 584 223 165.5 12.44 226 0.72

3 56 341 697 641 210 164.9 12.52 208 0.49

STDEV 2 77 44 42 10 0.8 0.08 12 0.16

Average Data 53 429 648 595 221 164.8 12.44 221 0.67

MAHRE - Maximum average heat rate emission

FIGRA - Fire growth rate
UDRI – Cone Calorimeter 

Smoke Release

Sample # Sample Starting Total Weight % Total Smoke

Description Thickness Mass Mass Loss Lost Release

 (mm) (g) (g) (%) (m2

/m2)

Ash 1 24.4 163.3 126.9 77.7 507

2 24.1 162.7 125.1 76.9 634

3 23.3 163.8 125.6 76.7 642

STDEV 0.55 0.6 0.9 0.6 75

Average Data 23.9 163.3 125.9 77.1 594

Pine 1 25.6 104.8 87.8 83.7 2623

2 25.3 106.1 86.6 81.6 690

3 25.6 106.2 88.7 83.5 2614

STDEV 0.17 0.8 1.1 1.2 1113

Average Data 25.5 105.7 87.7 83.0 1976

Sugar Maple 1 24.6 153.8 122.1 79.4 383

2 25.4 158.2 125.9 79.6 222

3 25.6 162.4 124.6 76.7 376

STDEV 0.49 4.3 1.9 1.6 91

Average Data 25.2 158.2 124.2 78.6 327

Red Oak 1 25.0 149.4 116.5 78.0 111

2 24.7 149.6 116.5 77.9 72

3 24.7 148.6 115.6 77.8 149

STDEV 0.16 0.5 0.5 0.1 39

Average Data 24.8 149.2 116.2 77.9 111

Wood 1 29.7 169.2 132.5 78.3 431

Pellets 2 29.7 169.4 133.0 78.5 459

3 29.7 169.1 131.6 77.8 517

STDEV 0.00 0.2 0.7 0.3 44

Average Data 29.7 169.2 132.4 78.2 469
UDRI – Cone Calorimeter 

CO/CO2 Emission Factors

Sample #

Description Pre Post Pre Post

Ignition Ignition Ignition Ignition

Ash 1 0.004 0.007 0.870 1.22

2 0.003 0.007 0.590 1.19

3 0.009 0.007 0.570 1.20

STDEV 0.003 0.000 0.168 0.02

Average Data 0.006 0.007 0.677 1.20

Pine 1 0.000 0.015 0.000 1.58

2 0.000 0.009 0.590 1.42

3 0.000 0.014 - 1.57

STDEV 0.000 0.003 - 0.09

Average Data 0.000 0.013 - 1.52

Sugar Maple 1 0.004 0.006 0.610 1.26

2 0.001 0.009 0.550 1.27

3 0.002 0.007 0.660 1.20

STDEV 0.001 0.001 0.055 0.04

Average Data 0.002 0.007 0.607 1.24

Red Oak 1 0.003 0.006 0.610 1.28

2 0.003 0.006 1.040 1.29

3 0.002 0.008 0.740 1.30

STDEV 0.001 0.001 0.221 0.01

Average Data 0.003 0.007 0.797 1.29

Wood 1 0.001 0.006 0.410 1.24

Pellets 2 0.001 0.006 0.450 1.24

3 0.003 0.006 0.390 1.23

STDEV 0.001 0.000 0.031 0.01

Average Data 0.001 0.006 0.417 1.24

CO Yield (kg/kg) CO2 Yield (kg/kg)
UDRI – Cone Calorimeter 

Particulate Mass (PM) Emission Factors

Type of Wood PM, g/kg fuel in

Ash 5.6

Sugar Maple 5.5

Pine 29.5

Red Oak 2.1

Wood Pellets 5.6
UDRI – Cone Calorimeter 

PCDD/F Emission Factors

Analyte Ash, 

g/kg fuel in

Sugar 

Maple, g/kg 

fuel in

Pine, 

g/kg fuel in

Red Oak, 

g/kg fuel in

Pellets, 

g/kg fuel in

(ND=0, EMPC=EMPC)

2,3,7,8-TCDD 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 4.27E-12

1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD 6.50E-11 2.02E-11 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00

1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDD 6.67E-11 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00

1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDD 7.47E-10 1.01E-10 0.00E+00 6.95E-11 4.54E-11

1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCDD 2.41E-10 4.13E-11 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 4.52E-11

1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD 1.85E-09 3.31E-10 6.28E-10 2.70E-10 2.36E-10

OCDD 1.21E-09 4.31E-10 2.21E-09 5.19E-10 5.46E-10

2,3,7,8-TCDF 9.01E-11 1.85E-10 2.15E-10 1.13E-10 1.12E-10

1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF 1.13E-10 2.52E-10 3.32E-10 1.41E-10 1.39E-10

2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF 3.18E-10 4.01E-10 4.64E-10 2.30E-10 0.00E+00

1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDF 2.88E-10 1.61E-10 2.19E-10 1.36E-10 8.40E-11

1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDF 1.29E-10 1.55E-10 2.07E-10 1.11E-10 8.05E-11

2,3,4,6,7,8-HxCDF 7.59E-11 1.62E-10 2.61E-10 1.10E-10 7.94E-11

1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCDF 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 2.37E-10 0.00E+00 9.66E-11

1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF 1.80E-10 1.72E-10 2.33E-10 1.52E-10 1.20E-10

1,2,3,4,7,8,9-HpCDF 4.20E-11 8.06E-11 0.00E+00 7.14E-11 5.22E-11

OCDF 1.40E-10 7.95E-11 4.18E-10 1.10E-10 1.17E-10

Totals

TCDDs 6.62E-10 2.75E-09 1.61E-09 1.33E-09 6.56E-10

PeCDDs 8.84E-10 2.44E-10 1.49E-10 1.75E-10 5.57E-11

HxCDDs 2.46E-09 3.17E-10 0.00E+00 2.08E-10 2.12E-10

HpCDDs 2.65E-09 5.16E-10 9.26E-10 1.81E-10 2.36E-10

OCDD 1.21E-09 4.31E-10 2.21E-09 5.19E-10 5.46E-10

TCDFs 4.35E-09 9.01E-09 8.42E-09 4.85E-09 5.67E-09

PeCDFs 2.71E-09 4.29E-09 5.12E-09 2.60E-09 2.04E-09

HxCDFs 1.29E-09 1.49E-09 1.19E-09 1.07E-09 5.75E-10

HpCDFs 2.22E-10 2.53E-10 4.85E-10 3.23E-10 1.85E-10

OCDF 1.40E-10 7.95E-11 4.18E-10 1.10E-10 1.17E-10

Total PCDD/Fs (ND=0; EMPC=0) 1.66E-08 1.93E-08 2.01E-08 1.13E-08 1.03E-08

Total PCDD/Fs (ND=0; EMPC=EMPC) 1.84E-08 2.03E-08 2.55E-08 1.39E-08 1.18E-08

Total PCDD/Fs (2378-X ND=DL; EMPC=EMPC) 1.85E-08 2.04E-08 2.64E-08 1.40E-08 1.18E-08

WHO-2005 TEQ (ND=0; EMPC=0) 3.26E-10 2.27E-10 2.17E-10 1.14E-10 4.58E-11

WHO-2005 TEQ (ND=0; EMPC=EMPC) 3.49E-10 2.35E-10 2.73E-10 1.33E-10 6.67E-11

WHO-2005 TEQ (ND=DL; EMPC=EMPC) 3.71E-10 2.52E-10 5.05E-10 1.99E-10 9.84E-11
Additional 

PAHs

UDRI – Cone Calorimeter

PAH Emission Factors

Naphthalene 1.18E-03 2.36E-04 1.49E-03 2.31E-04 4.14E-04

Acenaphthylene 1.83E-03 8.34E-04 3.00E-02 3.68E-04 1.16E-03

Acenaphthene 1.06E-04 2.64E-05 4.40E-04 1.29E-05 2.94E-05

Fluorene 3.01E-04 1.35E-04 4.97E-03 7.71E-05 1.69E-04

Phenanthrene 1.07E-03 5.35E-04 4.33E-03 2.73E-04 8.40E-04

Anthracene 1.67E-04 9.29E-05 2.41E-03 3.63E-05 1.35E-04

Fluoranthene 6.39E-04 3.38E-04 1.75E-03 1.41E-04 5.17E-04

Pyrene 1.44E-04 6.22E-05 1.60E-04 5.88E-05 1.28E-04

Benzo(a)Anthracene 8.50E-05 4.46E-05 1.70E-03 1.80E-05 6.67E-05

Chrysene 1.03E-04 4.64E-05 1.74E-03 1.99E-05 6.96E-05

Benzo(b)Fluoranthene 2.13E-04 9.57E-05 4.21E-03 3.73E-05 1.46E-04

Benzo(k)Fluoranthene 9.41E-05 3.99E-05 2.22E-03 1.58E-05 7.54E-05

Benzo(a)Pyrene 1.06E-04 9.35E-05 2.26E-03 3.27E-05 1.37E-04

Indeno(1,2,3-cd)Pyrene 1.29E-04 7.45E-05 2.77E-03 3.28E-05 1.39E-04

Dibenzo(a,h)Anthracene 1.56E-05 6.89E-06 6.00E-04 4.86E-06 1.08E-05

Benzo(ghi)Perylene 1.67E-04 7.39E-05 3.89E-03 4.12E-05 1.71E-04

Total 16 EPA PAHs 6.35E-03 2.74E-03 6.50E-02 1.40E-03 4.21E-03

2-Methylnaphthalene 1.71E-04 4.56E-05 6.82E-04 4.68E-05 6.21E-05

Benzo(e)Pyrene 9.41E-05 4.71E-05 1.58E-03 1.88E-05 8.34E-05

Perylene 3.87E-05 4.10E-05 1.23E-03 2.13E-05 7.08E-05

Ash, 

g/kg fuel in

Sugar Maple, 

g/kg fuel in

Pine, 

g/kg fuel in

Red Oak, 

g/kg fuel in

Pellets, 

g/kg fuel in Analyte
Analyte Ash, 

g/kg fuel in

Pine, 

g/kg fuel in

Red Oak, 

g/kg fuel in

Pellets, 

g/kg fuel in

1,2,3,5-Tetrachlorobenzene 1.64E-07 4.28E-08 1.71E-07 3.62E-08

1,2,4,5-Tetrachlorobenzene 1.52E-07 4.84E-08 1.37E-07 3.88E-08

1,2,3,4-Tetrachlorobenzene 5.42E-07 1.56E-07 4.60E-07 1.22E-07

Pentachlorobenzene 1.03E-06 7.89E-07 4.24E-07 6.56E-07

Hexachlorobenzene 3.57E-07 4.77E-07 3.07E-07 2.88E-07

Total (Tetra to Hexa) Clbz 2.25E-06 1.51E-06 1.50E-06 1.14E-06

Hexachlorobutadiene 7.93E-09 0.00E+00 1.12E-08 1.81E-08

UDRI – Cone Calorimeter

Chlorobenzenes / Chlorobutadiene Emission Factors
Outdoor Wood Fired Hydronic Heaters (OWHH)

The Central Boiler Classic CL 5036 The Central Boiler E-Classic 2300

The ACT pellet burner – CAT fire

The AFB Econoburn Gasification Boiler

Unit Model Technology

Central Boiler Classic CL5036 Single stage Combustion Process

 Central Boiler E-Classic 2300 Three stage Combustion Process

Australian Pellet burner by 

ACT Two-stage Combustion Process

The AFB Econoburn 

Gasification boiler

Two-stage: Combustion and 

Gasification with heat storage
Outdoor Wood-Fired Hydronic Heater (OWHH) 

Testing Facility Setup (US EPA, NC)
EPA vs.UDRI 

CO2 Emission Factors

• The total CO2 emission factors from the cone calorimeter are slightly higher than most of the OWHHs 

except for the ACT where wood pellets were burned. 

•When compared, the CO2 emission factors from CL5036 are ~85% of ash and ~65% of red oak and 

from the E2300 and AFB are ~70% of red oak emission factors from the cone calorimeter. The CO2

emission factors from the cone calorimeter are ~90% of the ACT for wood pellets. 

Fuel

EPA UDRI

g/kg fuel in

CL 5036 E2300 ACT AFB Cone Calorimeter

Red Oak 1330 (±29) 1560 (±37) - 1537 (±136) 2087

Pine 1529 (±177) - - - -

Ash 1556 (±34) - - - 1880

Wood Pellets - - 1817 (±2) - 1653

Sugar Maple - - - - 1847
EPA vs.UDRI 

CO Emission Factors

• With the exception of the ACT (where CO emission factors are comparable), the total CO emission 

factors from the cone calorimeter are an order of magnitude less than the OWHHs.

Fuel

EPA UDRI

g/kg fuel in

CL 5036 E2300 ACT AFB Cone Calorimeter

Red Oak 194 (±20) 117 (±17) - 127 (±60) 9

Pine 190 (±38) - - - 13

Ash 205 (±22) - - - 13

Wood Pellets - - 8 (±3) - 7

Sugar Maple - - - - 9
EPA vs.UDRI 

Combustion Efficiency* 

* Calculated based on [C of CO2] / [C of (CO + CO2)] x 100%

Fuel

EPA UDRI

%

CL 5036 E2300 ACT AFB Cone Calorimeter

Red Oak 81.35 89.46 - 88.51 99.33

Pine 83.66 - - - -

Ash 82.85 - - - 98.93

Wood Pellets - - 99.31 - 99.34

Sugar Maple - - - - 99.24
EPA vs.UDRI 

Particulate Mass (PM) Emission Factors

• The PM emission factors from the cone calorimeter are lower when compared to CL 5036 (by a factor

of ~1.5 for Pine, 5 for Ash and 11 for Red Oak), within experimental uncertainty comparable to E2300

and AFB, and is higher than from ACT (by a factor of ~3).

Fuel

EPA UDRI

g/kg fuel in

CL 5036 E2300 ACT AFB Cone Calorimeter

Red Oak 23.92 (±0.86) 4.48 (±2.47) - 2.96 (±0.83) 2.1

Pine 46.42 (±6.95) - - - 29.5

Ash 28.48 - - - 5.6

Wood Pellets - - 1.70 (±1.11) - 5.6

Sugar Maple - - - - 5.5
EPA vs.UDRI 

WHO-2005 TEQ PCDD/F Emission Factors

Fuel

EPA UDRI

g/kg fuel in

CL 5036 E2300 ACT AFB Cone Calorimeter

Red Oak 

1.05E-09 

(±7.58E-10)

1.10E-10 

(±2.15E-11) -

7.95E-11 

(±7.69E-12) 1.33E-10

Pine 

6.27E-10 

(±2.10E-10) - - - 2.73E-10

Ash 

3.81E-10 

(±5.33E-11) - - - 3.49E-10

Wood Pellets - - 2.80E-10 - 6.67E-11

Sugar Maple - - - - 2.35E-10
EPA vs.UDRI 

PAH (16 EPA) Emission Factors

• When compared to the cone calorimeter experiments, the PAH emission factors from the 

OWHHs are about two orders of magnitude higher and don’t follow the same trend. 

Fuel

EPA UDRI

g/kg fuel in

CL 5036 E2300 ACT AFB Cone Calorimeter

Red Oak 4.48E-01 1.61E-01 - 2.23E-01 1.40E-03

Pine 1.54E+00 - - - 6.50E-02

Ash 2.83E+00 - - - 6.35E-03

Wood Pellets - - 4.44E-01 - 4.21E-03

Sugar Maple - - - - 2.74E-03
Environmental Impact from Burning Wood

Pollutants Units per ton 

of fuel in

Emission Factors

Est. Min Est. Max.

PM g 590 53370

WHO-2005 TEQ PCDD/F* ng 67 1808

PAH g 1 2830

*Calculated based on world health organization toxic equivalency factors given in 2005 for 

PCDD/Fs 
Conclusions

 From the four types of wood and the wood pellets burned Pine has the highest 

flammability and emissions for most of the emissions characterized.

 The PM emission factors from the cone are less than those from conventional 

OWHH and similar to advanced OWHH.

 The PCDD/F emission factors from both the cone and OWHH tests are in the same 

order of magnitude.

 The PAH emission factors from the cone are up to two orders of magnitude less 

than the OWHH.

 The differences are attributed to the two different combustion conditions i.e. the 

well ventilated condition in the cone tests vs. the oxygen starved conditions in the 

conventional OWHHs. 

 The emission factors from OWHHs with advanced technologies (higher combustion 

efficiencies) are closer to the emission factors observed with the cone calorimeter.

 It is recommended that if the cone calorimeter is to be used as a viable tool to 

obtain emission factors more representative of emissions from OWHHs that a 

range of conditions (i.e. from well ventilated to oxygen starved) be investigated.
Agricultural Plastics Tested

Polypropylene Nursery pots Polyethylene Silage bags

HDPE Jars
UDRI – Cone Calorimeter 

Total Mass Burned per Sample

Type of Agricultural Plastics Burned Total Mass Burned per Sample (g)

PP Nursery pots 57.1

PE Silage bags 56.2

HDPE Jars 54.9
UDRI – Cone Calorimeter 

Analyses of Agricultural Plastic Samples

Type of Agricultural Plastics C, wt% Cl, ppm S, wt% Ash, wt%

PP Nursery pots 97.58 <200 <0.04 <0.6

PE Silage bags 98.72 <200 <0.04 <0.6

HDPE Jars 99.15 <200 <0.06 <0.5
Sample 

Description 

# Time to Peak Time to Time to Peak Average Total Heat Avg. Effective MAHRE FIGRA

Ignition HRR Peak HRR HRR - Tig HRR Release Heat of Comb.

(s) (kW/m2) (s) (s) (kW/m2) (MJ/m2) (MJ/kg) (kW/m2)

PE Silage bags 1 26 441 133 107 291 43.7 43.32 259 3.32

2 19 476 95 76 253 43.6 43.02 276 5.01

3 27 510 129 102 276 43.7 43.26 284 3.95

STDEV 4 35 21 17 19 0.1 0.16 13 0.85

Average Data 24 476 119 95 274 43.7 43.20 273 4.09

PP Nursery pots 1 36 503 64 28 283 41.6 42.41 278 7.86

2 28 483 50 22 273 41.0 41.21 286 9.66

3 36 516 63 27 347 41.4 - 274 8.19

STDEV 5 17 8 3 40 0 0.85 6 0.96

Average Data 33 501 59 26 301 41.3 41.81 279 8.57

HDPE Jars 1 39 409 171 132 294 42.1 41.96 232 2.39

2 38 445 167 129 314 42.3 41.84 245 2.67

3 35 447 94 59 321 42.0 41.26 253 4.76

STDEV 2 21 43 41 14 0 0.37 11 1.30

Average Data 37 434 144 107 309 42.1 41.69 243 3.27

UDRI – Cone Calorimeter

Heat Release Data and Flammability

MAHRE - Maximum average heat rate emission

FIGRA - Fire growth rate 
UDRI – Cone Calorimeter 

Smoke Release

Sample Description #

Sample 

Thickness

Starting 

Mass

Total 

Mass loss

Weight 

lost

Total 

Smoke 

Release

(mm) (g) (g) (%) (m2/m2)

PE Silage bags

1 27.9 10.0 10.1 100.9 445

2 27.9 10.1 10.1 100.5 434

3 27.9 10.1 10.1 100.5 409

STDEV 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.2 18

Average Data 27.9 10.1 10.1 100.6 429

PP Nursery pots

1 27.9 10.1 9.8 97.2 538

2 27.9 10.0 9.9 99.0 562

3 27.9 10.1 - - 529

STDEV 0.0 0.1 0.1 1.3 17

Average Data 27.9 10.1 9.9 98.1 543

HDPE Jars

1 27.9 10.0 10.0 99.8 484

2 27.9 10.0 10.1 100.8 445

3 27.9 10.0 10.2 101.7 449

STDEV 0.0 0.0 0.1 1.0 22

Average Data 27.9 10.0 10.1 100.8 459
Sample Description #

CO Yield(kg/kg) CO2 Yield (kg/kg)

Pre 

Ignition

Post 

Ignition

Pre 

Ignition

Post 

Ignition

Polyethylene Silage bags 1 0.001 0.030 1.75 2.93

2 0.000 0.030 3.20 2.82

3 0.008 0.030 1.27 2.86

STDEV 0.004 0.000 1.00 0.06

Average Data 0.003 0.030 2.07 2.87

Polypropylene Nursery pots 1 0.005 0.040 1.75 2.74

2 0.002 0.040 1.00 2.69

STDEV 0.002 0.000 0.53 0.04

Average Data 0.004 0.040 1.38 2.72

HDPE Jars 1 0.035 0.030 1.84 2.91

2 0.044 0.030 3.14 2.87

3 0.025 0.030 2.52 2.79

STDEV 0.010 0.000 0.65 0.06

Average Data 0.035 0.030 2.50 2.86

UDRI – Cone Calorimeter 

CO/CO2 Emission Factors
UDRI – Cone Calorimeter 

Particulate Mass (PM) Emission Factors

Type of Agricultural Plastics PM, g/kg fuel in

PP Nursery pots 74.43

PE Silage bags 64.23

HDPE Jars 76.68
PP Nursery pots PE Silage bags HDPE Jars

(ND=0, EMPC=EMPC)

2,3,7,8-TCDD 6.36E-11 1.90E-11 0.00E+00

1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD 1.11E-10 3.90E-11 0.00E+00

1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDD 0.00E+00 1.04E-10 0.00E+00

1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDD 4.26E-10 3.70E-10 2.57E-10

1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCDD 2.03E-10 1.80E-10 1.68E-10

1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD 2.05E-09 2.01E-09 1.49E-09

OCDD 3.61E-09 3.90E-09 2.71E-09

2,3,7,8-TCDF 2.19E-09 7.94E-10 1.27E-09

1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF 4.40E-09 1.35E-09 1.48E-09

2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF 4.76E-09 1.58E-09 1.44E-09

1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDF 2.63E-09 9.56E-10 7.76E-10

1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDF 3.03E-09 8.22E-10 6.08E-10

2,3,4,6,7,8-HxCDF 3.27E-09 8.86E-10 5.28E-10

1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCDF 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00

1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF 2.15E-09 8.97E-10 4.92E-10

1,2,3,4,7,8,9-HpCDF 2.08E-09 4.93E-10 3.33E-10

OCDF 1.35E-09 6.67E-10 3.99E-10

Totals

TCDDs 2.01E-09 2.14E-09 4.15E-09

PeCDDs 1.09E-09 6.69E-10 9.25E-10

HxCDDs 1.23E-09 2.35E-09 1.45E-09

HpCDDs 2.05E-09 2.01E-09 1.49E-09

OCDD 3.61E-09 3.90E-09 2.71E-09

TCDFs 7.04E-08 3.10E-08 9.62E-08

PeCDFs 6.43E-08 1.94E-08 1.89E-08

HxCDFs 3.36E-08 9.77E-09 5.83E-09

HpCDFs 7.50E-09 1.85E-09 3.33E-10

OCDF 1.35E-09 6.67E-10 3.99E-10

Total PCDD/Fs (ND=0; EMPC=0) 1.87E-07 7.37E-08 1.32E-07

Total PCDD/Fs (ND=0; EMPC=EMPC) 1.91E-07 7.63E-08 1.44E-07

Total PCDD/Fs (2378-X ND=DL; EMPC=EMPC) 1.91E-07 7.65E-08 1.44E-07

WHO-2005 TEQ (ND=0; EMPC=0) 2.80E-09 9.32E-10 3.81E-10

WHO-2005 TEQ (ND=0; EMPC=EMPC) 2.98E-09 1.02E-09 8.62E-10

WHO-2005 TEQ (ND=DL; EMPC=EMPC) 2.99E-09 1.03E-09 1.01E-09

g/kg fuel in Analyte

UDRI – Cone Calorimeter 

PCDD/F Emission Factors
UDRI – Cone Calorimeter 

PAH Emission Factors

Additional PAHs

Analyte PP Nursery pots PE Silage bags HDPE Jars

g/kg fuel in

Naphthalene 9.21E-03 8.31E-03 2.93E-03

Acenaphthylene 3.31E-03 2.70E-03 8.52E-03

Acenaphthene 1.89E-03 1.06E-03 6.78E-03

Fluorene 1.37E-02 1.19E-02 1.70E-02

Phenanthrene 3.99E-03 4.02E-03 9.56E-03

Anthracene 5.71E-03 5.46E-03 1.34E-02

Fluoranthene 3.43E-03 3.56E-03 7.85E-03

Pyrene 3.01E-04 3.56E-04 6.32E-04

Benzo(a)Anthracene 5.01E-03 4.22E-03 1.00E-02

Chrysene 4.85E-03 4.18E-03 9.11E-03

Benzo(b)Fluoranthene 6.25E-03 4.50E-03 1.09E-02

Benzo(k)Fluoranthene 5.24E-03 3.27E-03 1.02E-02

Benzo(a)Pyrene 7.06E-03 6.01E-03 1.48E-02

Indeno(1,2,3-cd)Pyrene 1.12E-02 8.22E-03 1.95E-02

Dibenzo(a,h)Anthracene 1.52E-03 8.11E-04 1.88E-03

Benzo(ghi)Perylene 1.18E-02 9.31E-03 2.39E-02

Total 16 PAHs 9.45E-02 3.39E-01 1.67E-01

2-Methylnaphthalene 2.80E-03 2.58E-03 1.73E-03

Benzo(e)Pyrene 5.29E-03 4.18E-03 8.52E-03

Perylene 2.82E-03 1.78E-03 2.30E-02
UDRI – Cone Calorimeter 

Chlorobenzenes/ Chlorobutadiene Emission Factors

Analyte PP Nursery pots PE Silage bags HDPE Jars

g/kg fuel in

1,2,3,5-Tetrachlorobenzene 8.09E-07 4.06E-07 5.99E-08

1,2,4,5-Tetrachlorobenzene 8.56E-07 2.08E-07 6.76E-08

1,2,3,4-Tetrachlorobenzene 2.80E-06 8.91E-07 1.84E-07

Pentachlorobenzene 5.80E-07 7.14E-07 1.20E-06

Hexachlorobenzene 1.06E-06 1.30E-06 1.91E-06

Total (Tetra to Hexa)Clbz 6.11E-06 3.52E-06 3.42E-06

Hexachlorobutadiene 4.97E-08 7.49E-08 5.79E-08
Open Burn Test Facility (OBTF) at US EPA, NC

T = thermocouples; PUF = polyurethane foam absorbent; CEM = control emission monitors;

THC = total hydrocarbons; dP = differential pressure.
Sample 

Description # CO Yield CO2 Yield

g/kg fuel in

PP Nursery pots 1 1.0 3576

2 1.5 3576

3 1.1 3576

4 0.8 3577

STDEV 0.32 0.50

Average Data 1.1 3576

PE Silage bags 1 1.6 3575

2 1.6 3575

3 1.3 3576

4 1.3 3576

STDEV 0.17 0.27

Average Data 1.4 3576

EPA – OBTF 

CO/CO2 Emission Factors

Type of Agricultural Plastics

EPA – OBTF UDRI – C one Calorimeter

CO CO2 CO CO2

g/kg fuel in

PP Nursery pots 1.1 3576 43.5 4090

PE Silage bags 1.4 3576 33.0 4943

HDPE Jars - - 64.7 5357
Type of Agricultural Plastics EPA – OBTF UDRI – Cone Calorimeter

%

PP Nursery pots 99.95 98.36

PE Silage bags 99.94 98.96

HDPE Jars - 98.14

EPA vs.UDRI 

Combustion Efficiency* 

* Calculated based on [C of CO2] / [C of (CO + CO2)] x 100%
Particulate Mass (PM) PP Nursery pots PE Silage bags

g/kg fuel in 

PM 10 0.0070 0.0073

PM 2.5 0.0073 0.0114

Total 0.0074 0.0078

EPA – OBTF 

Particulate Mass(PM) Emission Factors

Type of Agricultural Plastic EPA – OBTF (PM 10+2.5) UDRI – Cone calorimeter (PM)

g/kg fuel in

PP Nursery pots 0.0074 74.43

PE Silage bags 0.0078 64.23

HDPE Jars - 76.68

Note: The differences in PM yields between the cone and OBTF data is because 

in the cone tests the total particles generated were sampled where as in the 

OBTF tests only size selected particle sampling was performed i.e. PM < 10 μm 

and PM < 2.5 μm
Analyte PP Nursery pots PE Silage bags

g/kg fuel in

2,3,7,8-TCDD 0.00E+00 4.15E-11

1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD 1.51E-10 4.00E-10

1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDD 6.47E-12 4.52E-12

1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDD 2.83E-11 3.40E-11

1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCDD 1.13E-11 2.23E-11

1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD 7.65E-12 9.06E-12

OCDD 5.36E-13 3.62E-13

2,3,7,8-TCDD 8.85E-11 1.15E-10

1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF 3.08E-11 3.23E-11

2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF 6.08E-10 5.21E-10

1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDF 2.39E-10 2.12E-10

1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDF 1.81E-10 1.62E-10

2,3,4,6,7,8-HxCDF 1.40E-11 2.19E-11

1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCDF 1.83E-10 1.98E-10

1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF 4.69E-11 5.34E-11

1,2,3,4,7,8,9-HpCDF 8.08E-12 4.64E-12

OCDF 4.82E-13 2.58E-13

Totals

TCDDs 1.08E-08 1.56E-08

PeCDDs 4.01E-09 5.58E-09

HxCDDs 3.58E-09 2.76E-09

HpCDDs 1.61E-09 1.51E-09

OCDD 1.79E-09 8.27E-10

TCDFs 3.63E-08 5.48E-08

PeCDFs 2.82E-08 2.74E-08

HxCDFs 1.79E-08 1.64E-08

HpCDFs 6.44E-09 6.58E-09

OCDF 1.61E-09 8.60E-10

Total PCDD/Fs (ND=O,EMPC=EMPC) 1.12E-07 1.32E-07

WHO-2005 TEQ (ND=0,EMPC=EMPC) 4.10E-10 6.76E-10

EPA – OBTF 

PCDD/F Emission Factors

Analyte

EPA – OBTF UDRI – Cone Calorimeter

PP Nursery pots PE Silage bags PP Nursery pots PE Silage bags HDPE Jars

g/kg fuel in

Total PCDD/Fs (ND=0; EMPC=EMPC) 1.12E-07 1.32E-07 1.91E-07 7.63E-08 1.44E-07

WHO-2005 TEQ PCDD/Fs (ND=0;EMPC=EMPC) 4.10E-10 6.76E-10 2.98E-09 1.02E-09 8.62E-10
EPA – OBTF 

PAH Emission Factors

Analyte 

OBTF

PP Nursery pots PE Silage bags

g/kg fuel in

Naphthalene 5.88E-02 7.48E-02

Acenaphthylene 2.47E-02 2.75E-02

Acenaphthene 6.96E-04 9.09E-04

Fluorene 4.50E-03 5.95E-03

Phenanthrene 1.55E-02 1.48E-02

Anthracene 2.32E-03 2.75E-03

Fluoranthene 1.35E-02 6.61E-03

Pyrene 9.91E-03 8.63E-03

Benzo(a)anthracene 1.15E-03 7.80E-04

Chrysene 1.52E-03 7.96E-04

Benzo(b)fluoranthene 1.27E-03 9.99E-04

Benzo(k)fluoranthene 5.75E-04 4.55E-04

Benzo(a)pyrene 1.49E-03 1.42E-03

Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene 1.49E-03 1.42E-03

Dibenz(a,h)anthracene 1.47E-04 7.30E-05

Benzo(ghi)perylene 1.49E-03 7.63E-04

Total 16 EPA PAHs 1.39E-01 1.49E-01

Type of Agricultural Plastic

Total 16 EPA PAHs

EPA – OBTF UDRI – Cone calorimeter 

g/kg fuel in

PP Nursery pots 1.39E-01 9.45E-02

PE Silage bags 1.49E-01 3.39E-01

HDPE Jars - 1.67E-01
Environmental Impact from Burning Agricultural Plastics

Pollutants Units per ton 

of fuel in

Emission Factors

Est. Min Est. Max.

PM (2.5 + 10 μm) g 7.4 7.8

WHO-2005 TEQ PCDD/F ng 410 2980

PAH g 95 339

*Calculated based on world health organization toxic equivalency factors given in 2005 for 

PCDD/Fs 
Conclusions

 From the three types of agricultural plastics burned, the cone tests show that 

polypropylene nursery pots have the highest emission factors for most of the 

emissions characterized. 

 Although differences were observed in the emission factors for the plastics tested 

with the cone calorimeter, the emission factors from the OBTF are similar for the 

two plastics tested and are within experimental uncertainty. 

 Except for PM (where differences were observed due to the sampling methods), 

the emission factors from OBTF and Cone Calorimeter are similar in magnitude and 

within experimental uncertainty. 

 Thus, the cone calorimeter setup can be used to obtain emission factors under 

well ventilated conditions similar to the open burn scenario. 
Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the financial support of the Great Lakes

Commission, and project manager Anna Soehl for her patience

and efforts in seeing the completion of this study.

We would also like to thank Dr. Brian Gullett and his staff at US EPA

for providing the OWHH and Open Burn test facilities (Research

Triangle Park, NC) for this study.
Thank You!

Questions?