Trace elements in fine and coarse particles emitted from coal-fired power plants with different air pollution control systems

Abstract

Emissions from coal-fired power plants (CFPP) are one of the major sources of air pollutants in the industrial sector. We characterized the metal element mass concentration in fine and coarse particles from CFPP using sub-bituminous coal. We sampled stack emissions from six CFPP units equipped with different emission control technologies. The power plants were located in Jepara Regency (using electrostatic precipitator (ESP) alone or in combination, as ESP-flue gas desulfurization, FGD) and in Rembang Regency (using ESP alone). We measured PM2.5 and PM10 particle emissions using the US EPA 201 A method and further subjected the particles to laboratory analysis for trace metal elements using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICPMS). The CFPP emissions showed that the mass concentration of coarse particles was higher than that of fine particles. Based on metal element analysis only, the total mass in fine particles was higher than that in the coarse particles. With respect to the metal elements detected, the major elements, minor elements, and trace elements, on average, represented 7%, 15%, and 77%, respectively. In this study, we identified new trace elements associated with coal combustion, namely Na, Be, and Sn. The emission factor in fine particles is not significant for different air pollution control The element marker of coal fired-power plant should consider installed air pollution control.