We used two approaches to investigate the impact of sulfur and chlorine compounds on transfer of a semivolatile heavy metal, cadmium, during municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration: experiments using a tubular furnace reactor and thermodynamic equilibrium calculations. Artificial wastes representative of typical MSW in China with and without the presence of sulfur and chlorine compounds were combusted at 850 degrees C, and the partitioning of Cd among bottom ash, fly ash and flue gas was quantified. The results indicate that sulfur compounds in the elemental form and reduced state could stabilize Cd in the form of CdS due to local reducing environment, while sulfur in the oxidized forms slightly increased Cd volatilization during incineration. In contrast, the presence of chlorine compounds significantly increased the partitioning of Cd on fly ash. Chemical equilibrium calculations show that sulfur binds with Cd and alters Cd speciation at low temperatures (<700 degrees C), while chlorine significantly increases the volatilization of Cd through formation of volatile CdCl(2) and thus its partitioning on the fly ash between 400 and 1000 degrees C. The equilibrium calculation results also suggest that SiO(2)- and Al(2)O(3)-containing minerals could function as sorbents stabilizing Cd as condensed phase solids (CdSiO(3) and CdAl(2)O(4)). These findings provide useful information on understanding the partitioning behavior of Cd and can help development of strategies to control volatilization of Cd during MSW incineration.