Measured Parameters

Fiscal measurements

Continuous measurements are carried out with dedicated instruments that take a sample of the fumes originating from the combustion of waste, downstream of the waste purification treatment, 24/7 without interruption on each line of the plant, and return the concentration results in real time.

TRM performs this type of measurements, as established by Legislative Decree 152/06, for the following parameters:

  • Total Dusts
  • Organic substances in the form of gases and vapours expressed as total organic carbon – TOC
  • Hydrochloric acid – HCl
  • Hydrofluoric acid – HF
  • Sulphur dioxide – SO2
  • Nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen dioxide expressed as nitrogen dioxide – NO2
  • Ammonia – NH3
  • Carbon monoxide – CO
  • Mercury – Hg

Periodic measurements, on the other hand, are carried out using dedicated instruments and the support of a specialised laboratory: periodic monitoring involves a sampling phase of variable duration depending on the parameter being checked and a subsequent laboratory analysis phase. The frequency of these self-checks is as established by law.

The parameters subject to periodic measurements are:

  • Metals
    • Cadmium and Thallium – Cd + Tl
    • Mercury – Hg
    • Zinc – Zn
    • Sum of metals (Antimony – Sb + Arsenic – As + Lead – Pb + Chromium – Cr + Cobalt -Co + Copper – Cu + Manganese – Mn + Nickel – Ni + Vanadium – V + Tin – Sn)
  • Organic micro-pollutants
    • Dioxins and furans – PCDDs + PCDFs
    • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons – PAHs
    • Polychlorinated Biphenyls Dioxin Like – PCB-DL

The PCB-DL measurement is performed as of 1 January 2016, following regulatory amendments to Legislative Decree. 46/14.

 

Exploratory Measurements

The permit in force prescribes, in addition to the fiscal measurements, a series of measurements with the goal of achieving better understanding of the process and stronger control of related environmental effects.

The parameters subject to “additional” monitoring are certain families among the organic micropollutants, substances that are already subject to periodic fiscal control, but for which more data was deemed necessary in the authorization. For this purpose, there is a continuous sampling system for PCDDs/PCDFs and PAHs through which 28-day samples are obtained and subsequently analysed in the laboratory.

In addition, four-monthly measurements of PBDD/F (polybromodibenzodioxins and polybromodibenzofurans) are carried out.