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Abstract: The rapid expansion of coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) in China has produced huge volume of toxic elements associated combustion residues, which pose great threat to local environment. In this study, feed coal, fly ash, bottom ash and FGD gypsum samples were collected from two different CFPPs at Huainan, Anhui, China. Feed coal and combustion residues were morphologically and mineralogically characterized by scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy-dispersive microanalyser and X-ray diffraction. Concentrations of thirteen major and trace elements in these samples were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (B, Ti, Mn, Ni and Zn), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Pb, Sn and V) and atomic fluorescence spectroscopy (As). The results show that most of the trace elements were concentrated in the fly ash, only Fe and Mn were enriched in the bottom ash. The diameters of ash particles removed by the electrostatic precipitator were in an inverse relationship with the enrichment factors of most trace elements. To address possible exposure of combustion residues in the environment, laboratory controlled leaching tests were carried out on fly ash and gypsum to understand the environmental behaviors of these elements. Both fly ash and gypsum were identified as not-hazardous wastes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The present study has investigated the distribution of arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), stibium (Sb) and selenium (Se) in feed coal and its combustion by-products in two pulverized coal-fired power plants at Huainan city, Anhui province, China, both of which burned the bituminous coals. Experimental analysis of simultaneously sampled coal, bottom ash, fly ash and FGD products showed that the concentrations of As, Hg, Sb and Se in coal were in the ranges of typical Chinese power plants reported by others publications. Mercury was found to be the most volatile, whereas Sb was the least volatile. The overall material balances of As, Hg, Sb and Se were established based on the operation parameters of their respective boiler. The average removal efficiencies of As, Hg, Sb and Se by the ESP unit were 83%, 16%, 100%, and 72%, respectively, whereas those by the FGD process were 61%, 80%, 0% and 55%, respectively. The stack emission proportions of As, Hg and Se were 6%, 17% and 13%, respectively. And the total annual emissions of As, Hg and Se from two coal-fired power plants were estimated at 0.46t, 0.04t and 2.27t, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]