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Analysis of the migration and sedimentation patterns and factors of pollutants in incineration flue gas

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Abstract

In order to understand the migration and deposition patterns of pollutants from urban solid waste incineration in the atmosphere on the plateau, we measured the emissions of pollutants (acidic gases, heavy metals) from the waste incineration plant in Lhasa, Qinghai Tibet Plateau. Additionally, we analyzed heavy metal concentrations in the surrounding atmospheric, soil, and vegetation environment. Subsequently, the Gaussian plume model is used to simulate and analyze the pollutants. The survey revealed that pollutant concentrations during incineration is higher at locations closer to the effective source height (198.55 m). Without being affected by terrain during diffusion, pollutants mainly concentrate at distances from 1 km to 3 km, with migration distances extending up to 10 km. Under the influence of terrain conditions during pollutant diffusion, pollutants emitted from waste incineration into the atmosphere are mainly concentrated within a range of 1 to 2 km, and the main impact range of diffusion and migration is also reduced. Overall, pollutant deposit occurred primarily within approximately 2 km of the source and began to declined beyond this distance.

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Data availability

All relevant data are within the manuscript and available from the corresponding author upon request. The primary data in the manuscript is stored in a Scientific Data Bank.

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Acknowledgments

We sincerely thanked the Lhasa Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Power Plant of the Xizang Autonomous Region for providing the experimental site.

Funding

This work was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.52160026; No.22476160), Key R & D projects of Xizang Autonomous Region (No.XZ202301ZY0029G), and Sichuan University of Science & Engineering’s talent introduction projects (No.2024RC068).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Ecology and Environment, Tibet University, Lhasa, 850000, China

    Peng Zhou & Zeng Dan

  2. College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, Zigong, 643000, China

    Wenwu Zhou

  3. School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin, 300134, China

    Guanyi Chen

  4. Key Laboratory of Plateau Environmental Engineering and Pollution Control of Xizang Autonomous Region, Tibet University, Lhasa, 850000, China

    Guanyi Chen, Peng Zhou & Zeng Dan

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  1. Wenwu Zhou
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  2. Guanyi Chen
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  3. Peng Zhou
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Zeng Dan and Guanyi Chen provided the research ideas and experimental equipment. Wenwu Zhou, Peng Zhou completed the experimental operation and the arrangement and processing of experimental data.

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Zeng Dan.

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This study mainly focuses on the pollutants and surrounding environment of incineration plants, and does not include research on human and animal health.

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Zhou, W., Chen, G., Zhou, P. et al. Analysis of the migration and sedimentation patterns and factors of pollutants in incineration flue gas.
Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-40150-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-40150-0

Keywords

  • Municipal solid waste
  • Gauss mist-plume model
  • Smoke pollutants
  • Incineration fly ash
  • Meteorological influencing factors

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