Distribution of Some Ecotoxic Elements in Fuel and Solid Combustion Residues in Poland

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to assess the content and distribution of some elements in coal from two bituminous coal basins and in fly ash and slag derived from combustion of the coals in six power plants in Poland. The petrographic composition and distribution of elements were characterized in the tested samples, using reflected light microscope, X-ray powder diffractometer, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray. The highest content of elements in coal occurs in siderite. In Al-Si particles, as well as in magnetite with skeletal and dendritic structure crystallized on the surface of Al-Si microspheres or cenospheres included in fly ash size < 0.05 mm and in the magnetic fraction of slag, the highest content of elements was noted. Due to the content of elements, fly ash and slag were considered to be neutral for the soil environment. Correlations, which have not been described before, have been observed between the likely mode of binding of some elements in coal and their distribution in fly ash and slag. These correlations could be of particular value when predicting the content and distribution of elements in combustion residues and in the assessment of their environmental toxicity.

Archives of Mining Sciences

“…The content of major elements in coal ash was converted into the content of oxides of the elements in coal ash (SiO 2, Al 2 O 3 , Fe 2 O 3, CaO, MgO, Na 2 O, K 2 O, SO 3 ,TiO 2 , P 2 O 5 ), and the content of trace elements in coal ash was converted into their content in coal. The trace elements were selected for research by choosing those of the highest content and the most common in USCB coal (Ptak & Różkowska, 1996) and in solid combustion waste (Wierońska et al, 2019;Parzentny & Róg, 2020), as well as those associated with ecotoxic elements (Duffus, 2002). Then, the arithmetic mean values of all the petrographic, geochemical and technological indicators of coal quality in the coal samples, representing the whole Limnic Series and its given beds (i.e.…”

Behavior of Cd during Coal Combustion: An Overview

“…10% silicate-associated Cd in both high-rank and low-rank coals [28]. Organic affinity of Cd has been observed in Waterberg Coalfield coal [29], Huaibei Coalfield coal [26] or in coal form Upper Silesian Coal basin [30].…”

Distribution and Mode of Occurrence of Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Ag, Cd, Sb, Pb in the Feed Coal, Fly Ash, Slag, in the Topsoil and in the Roots of Trees and Undergrowth Downwind of Three Power Stations in Poland

“…It is assumed that the content and probably also the mode of occurrence of the trace elements in coal is different before and after coal cleaning of the mineral matter interlayers (e.g., [117][118][119][120][121]). It is supposed that the mode of EE occurrence in the feed coal from the Upper Silesian and Lublin Coal Basin is an individual property of each feed coal and it may differ from the hitherto determined mode of occurrence of the elements in raw coal [20].…”

“…It is totally the opposite with the elements which are connected with minerals other than sulfides. They probably remain in the fly ash matrix or evaporate slowly [16,20]. The finest particles of fly ash [18,[21][22][23][24][25][26], and the dusts…”