Physical and chemical characterization of aerosol emissions from coal-fired power plants

Conference · Mon Jun 25 04:00:00 EDT 1979

OSTI ID:6144889

Ondov, J M; Biermann, A H

Conventional power plants, fired by pulverized coal, are the largest single anthropogenic source of atmospheric fine particles and sulfur oxides and the second largest source of nitrogen oxides. Associated with the atmospheric emission of fine particulate matter and oxides of sulfur and nitrogen is the concurrent release of potentially toxic trace elements and heavy metals, naturally occuring radionuclides, and potentially carcinogenic organic and inorganic compounds. We have examined physical and chemical properties of particulate emissions from eight different boilers all burning pulverized coal and equipped with either hot or cold-side electrostatic precipitators or venturi wet scrubbers. The results of these studies, including classification of morphology, measurement of distribution parameters of aerosol particles, and comprehensive analyses of fly-ash particles for trace elements, heavy metals and radionuclides are discussed. However they are formed, these particles serve as surfaces for the condensation or adsoprtion of substances volatilized during combustion. Davison et al. demonstrated an inverse size dependence of the concentration of many elements in coal fly ash. This is indeed the behavior one would expect if some portion of the element resided in a relatively thin surface layer that was deposited from the gas phase.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6144889
• Report Number(s): UCRL-82761; CONF-790458-3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010800 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Waste Management
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
200202* -- Fossil-Fueled Power Plants-- Waste Management-- Noxious Gas & Particulate Emissions
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
ACTINIDES
AEROSOL WASTES
AEROSOLS
AIR POLLUTION
ARSENIC
CARCINOGENS
CASCADE IMPACTORS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHROMIUM
COBALT
COLLOIDS
COPPER
DISPERSIONS
ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATORS
ELEMENTS
ENRICHMENT
EQUIPMENT
FLUE GAS
FLY ASH
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
GASEOUS WASTES
MANGANESE
MERCURY
METALS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLE SIZE
PARTICLES
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
POWER PLANTS
RADIOACTIVITY
REFRACTORY METALS
SAMPLING
SCRUBBERS
SELENIUM
SEMIMETALS
SIZE
SOLS
SPECTROSCOPY
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TRACE AMOUNTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
TUNGSTEN
URANIUM
VAPOR CONDENSATION
WASTES
X-RAY EMISSION ANALYSIS
X-RAY FLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS
ZINC