Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are brominated flame retardants that are used in polymeric materials. Due to their adverse health effects, the use of recycled wastes has been forbidden if the total PBDE content exceeds 0.1% (w/w). The objective was to estimate the proportion of PBDEs in professional seating furnishing wastes to identify the materials in which the content of PBDEs (and particularly BDE-209) could exceed the limit to eliminate them from recycling. An analytical process (microwave extraction followed by purification and chromatographic analysis) was adapted to assess with a unique methodology the amounts of eight PBDEs in materials that result from various seating wastes, such as hard plastics, foams and accompanying textiles. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) was used to rapidly predict critical PBDE concentrations via Br. From 100 samples, the total PBDE content did not exceed the current tolerated threshold. The examined materials contained only trace levels of former PBDE formulations, and BDE-209 was identified at higher amounts, mainly in hard plastics, but these amounts were less than 312 mg kg⁻¹. Since XRF was not reliable for quantitative measurements and was not specific, no direct correlation could be identified between Br and PBDE levels. Br was strongly associated with As in all the materials, but the presence of PBDEs was not clearly associated with the presence of other metals that are used in flame retardants.

多溴二苯醚 (PBDE) 是用于聚合物材料的溴化阻燃剂。由于其对健康的不利影响，如果 PBDE 总含量超过 0.1% (w/w)，则禁止使用回收废物。目的是估计专业座椅家具废物中多溴二苯醚的比例，以确定多溴二苯醚（尤其是 BDE-209）含量可能超过限制的材料，以消除它们的回收利用。一种分析过程（微波提取，然后是纯化和色谱分析）采用独特的方法来评估由各种座椅废物产生的材料中八种多溴二苯醚的含量，例如硬塑料、泡沫和随附的纺织品。X 射线荧光 (XRF) 用于通过 Br 快速预测临界 PBDE 浓度。从 100 个样品中，总 PBDE 含量没有超过当前的耐受阈值。所检查的材料仅含有痕量的前多溴二苯醚配方，并且发现 BDE-209 的含量更高，主要存在于硬塑料中，但这些含量低于 312 毫克/千克^-1。由于 XRF 对定量测量不可靠且不具有特异性，因此无法确定 Br 和 PBDE 水平之间的直接相关性。Br 与所有材料中的 As 密切相关，但 PBDEs 的存在与阻燃剂中使用的其他金属的存在没有明显关联。