97/05132 Toxic substances from coal combustion: laboratory studies: Senior, C. L. et al. Proc. Annu. Int. Pittsburgh Coal Conf., 1996, 13, (2), 1344–1349

Abstract

The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 identify a number of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) as candidates for regulation. Should regulations be imposed on HAP emissions from coal-fired power plants, a sound understanding of the fundamental principles controlling the formation and partitioning of toxic species during coal combustion will be needed. PSI Technologies (PSIT) is teaming with researches from USGS, MIT, the University of Arizona, the University of Kentucky, the University of Connecticut, and Princeton University to develop a broadly applicable emissions model useful to regulators and utility planners. The new Toxics Partitioning Engineering Model (ToPEM) will be applicable to all combustion conditions including new fuels and coal blends, low-NO{sub x} combustion systems, and new power generation plants. Development of ToPEM will be based on PSIT`s existing Engineering Model for Ash Formation (EMAF). Extensive coal characterization and laboratory work will be conducted in order to develop and test new sub-models, including direct identification of the modes of occurrence of trace inorganic species in coal and ash using unique analytical techniques such as XAFS analysis and selective leaching and combustion testing too evaluate the formation and partitioning of inorganic toxic compounds as a function of mode of occurrence and combustion conditionsmore » at a range of combustion scales. Preliminary analysis of two American bituminous coals has focused on the forms of arsenic in both coal and ash. Trends in trace metal concentration in coal particles as a function of particle size have also been documented.« less