EMISSIONS AND PARTICLE-SIZE DISTRIBUTIONS OF MINOR AND TRACE-ELEMENTS AT 2 WESTERN COAL-FIRED POWER-PLANTS EQUIPPED WITH COLD-SIDE ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATORS

Concentrations and distributions according to particle size of up to 42 elements were measured in aerosol particles collected in-stack at two western coal-fired power plants equipped with cold-side electrostatic precipitators (ESP). Elements were measured by instrumental neutron activation analysis, atomic absorption spectroscopy, and X-ray fluorescence. Particle-size distributions in filter and cascade impactor samples from both units were bimodal. Most of the particulate material from the units was emitted as large particles with mass median aerodynamic diameters of >1.6 µm. Emission rates normalized per joule of input heat strongly reflect differences in the type and efficiency of the control devices and the chemistry of the coal. However, the relative penetrations of many elements at both plants were remarkably similar despite major differences in coal composition and plant design. Our results are compared with those of three other studies of similarly equipped power plants. Relative penetrations of Zn, Pb, Ba, Cr, Co, V, Rb, and Sb differed significantly among the five plants. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.