Distribution and Occurrence of Mercury in Coal of China and Its Effect on Environment

Abstract

Mercury is one of the factors harmful to the environment. As mercury has quite strong volatility, it will be easily emitted into the atmosphere when the coal is burnt which will then pollute the atmosphere, water and soil and cause danger to living beings. Pyrite in the coal is the main carrier of mercury but other sulfides and clay minerals may also contain mercury which causes the content of mercury in partial low-sulfur coals is more than that in high-sulfur coals. China is the country with the largest production and consumption of coal. Attention shall be paid to the issue that mercury is emitted into the atmosphere because of burning coals.