Trace elements of coal, coal ashes and fly ashes by activation analysis with short-lived nuclides

Abstract: On irradiation with neutrons, some of the interesting trace elements in coal, coal ash and fly ash produce short-lived nuclides which may be determined—together with some of the matrix elements—by activation analysis. This enables the characterization of samples. To find out the distribution of elements in the gaseous or aerosol exhaust of fossil-fired power plants, we simulated the combustion in a quartz apparatus containing a cold trap, using the combustion temperature (780 °C) employed for the standard ash determination. High Se values were found in the cold trap deposits from black coal from Poland. Halogens were also found in the deposits.