The development and improvement of technology for the abatement of fly ash emitted by coal-fired power plants can be enhanced by an understanding of particle formation upon coal combustion and of the collection mechanism during precipitation. This requires the chemical and physical characterization of fly ash in terms of both bulk and single particle properties. In this context, muPIXE and RBS analysis using a 1 mum focused beam is very successful in providing major and trace element composition of single particles. In the present work, fly ash particles collected at the inlet and outlet ports of the electrostatic precipitator of a coal-fired power plant have been analysed. In particular, particles with a diameter of about 1 mum, for which the collection efficiency is rather low, have been considered. Results are presented and discussed.