Trace elements in coal: Associations with coal and minerals and their behavior during coal utilization – A review

Temporal and spatial variation characteristics of atmospheric emissions of Cd, Cr, and Pb from coal in China

“…The content of hazardous trace elements in coal can provide useful information on the pollution control during coal combustion and utilization from an environmental point of view (Dai et al, 2008;Vejahati et al, 2010). Even when present at only parts per million levels in coal, hazardous elements can result in tons of pollutants discharged into the environment (von Storch et al, 2003).…”

Geochemistry of Trace Elements as one of the Important Coal Quality Parameter: An Example from Balingian Coal, Malaysia

“…The health and environmental threats posed by inorganic toxic elements in coal are the potential release of these elements from coal to the environment during coal combustion and their potential hazard in groundwater if they are leached from coalmining waste, or from fly ash at disposal sites. Such hazards are of great public concern (Diehl et al 2012;Miller 2011;Schweinfurth 2003;Swaine & Goodarzi 1995; US EPA 2000; US Public Law 1990; Vejahati et al 2010;Zheng et al 1999). Nonetheless, the potential hazard of the inorganic toxic elements to the groundwater is beyond the scope of this study.…”

“…The modes of occurrence of a trace element in coal can affect the way the trace element behaves during coal combustion (Tewalt et al 2001;Vejahati et al 2010) and thus will have different health and environmental impacts (Finkelman & Gross 1999;Huggins 2002;Tewalt et al 2001). The organically and associated trace elements tend to be vaporized, either escaping to the atmosphere or are adsorbed on the fine fly ash particles upon combustion in the furnace.…”

“…The organically and associated trace elements tend to be vaporized, either escaping to the atmosphere or are adsorbed on the fine fly ash particles upon combustion in the furnace. The inorganically associated elements are generally non-volatile or have very low volatility and tend to be retained in the bottom ash and in the fly ash particles upon combustion (Dai et al 2010;Finkelman 1994;Huang et al 2004;Liu et al 2005Liu et al , 2004Querol et al 1995;Spears & Zheng 1999;Vassilev & Braekman-Danheux 1999;Vejahati et al 2010), though partitioning of trace elements also depends on the natural volatility of these elements (Clarke & Sloss 1992;Miller 2011;Querol et al 1995;Suárez-Ruiz & Ward 2008;Vejahati et al 2010). …”

“…Although potentially hazardous trace elements only present in parts per million levels in coal, as a result of coal combustion several tons of these pollutants might be released to the environment (Vejahati et al 2010). Many coal combustion-related health problems, such as arsenism, fluorosis, selenosis, mercurialism and berylliosis (beryllium poisoning), have been reported in many developing countries (Table 1), especially where mineralized coals are used in open, unvented ovens in homes for cooking, home heating and food drying (Dai et al 2012;Ding et al 2001;Tang et al 2009;Zhao et al 2008) or where residential areas are within the range of emissions from coal-fired power plants (Fuge 2005;Keegan et al 2006;Thornton et al 2003).…”