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. 2023 Apr 21;11(4):396.
doi: 10.3390/toxics11040396.

Risk Evaluation of Pollutants Emission from Coal and Coal Waste Combustion Plants and Environmental Impact of Fly Ash Landfilling

Jovana Z Buha Marković  1 , Ana D Marinković  1 , Jasmina Z Savić  1 , Milica R Mladenović  1 , Milić D Erić  1 , Zoran J Marković  1 , Mirjana Đ Ristić  2
Affiliations

Risk Evaluation of Pollutants Emission from Coal and Coal Waste Combustion Plants and Environmental Impact of Fly Ash Landfilling

Jovana Z Buha Marković et al. Toxics. .

Abstract

Emission factors (EFs) of gaseous pollutants, particulate matter, certain harmful trace elements, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from three thermal power plants (TPPs) and semi-industrial fluidized bed boiler (FBB) were compared. EFs of particulate matter, trace elements (except Cd and Pb), benzo[a]pyrene, and benzo[b]fluoranthene exceed the upper limits specified in the EMEP inventory guidebook for all combustion facilities. The comparison of trace elements and PAHs content in fly ashes (FAs) from lignite and coal waste combustion in TPPs and FBB, respectively, as well as the potential environmental impact of FAs disposal, was performed by employing a set of ecological indicators such as crustal enrichment factor, risk assessment code, risk indices for trace elements, and benzo[a]pyrene equivalent concentration for PAHs. Sequential analysis shows that the trace elements portion is the lowest for water-soluble and exchangeable fractions. The highest enrichment levels in FAs are noticed for As and Hg. Based on toxic trace elements content, FAs from TPPs represent a very high ecological risk, whereas fly ash from FBB poses a moderate ecological risk but has the highest benzo[a]pyrene equivalent concentration, indicating its increased carcinogenic potential. Lead isotope ratios for Serbian coals and FAs can contribute to a lead pollution global database.

Keywords: PAHs; coal and coal waste combustion; emission; environmental risk estimation; fly ash disposal; gaseous pollutants; lead isotopic fingerprint; particulate matter; trace elements.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
NOx, CO, SO2, and total PM concentrations (all in mg/Nm3) in flue gases from TPP Kolubara A, TPP Kostolac B, TPP Nikola Tesla A, and FBB.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Overall trace element concentrations in F1-F6 fractions of fly ashes (TPPKb, TPPKs, TPPNT, and CFB).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Distribution of investigated trace elements in fly ashes: TPPKb (a), TPPKs (b), TPPNT (c), and CFB (d) among the water-soluble fraction (F1), the exchangeable fraction (F2), the carbonate bound fraction (F3), the metal oxide bound fraction (F4), the organic bound fraction (F5), and the residual fraction (F6).
Figure 4
Figure 4
(a) Portions for carcinogenic (C) and non-carcinogenic elements (NC) and average values in each fraction for all fly ashes (TPPKb, TPPKs, TPPNT, and CFB); (b) overall distribution of C and NC elements among six fractions.
Figure 5
Figure 5
(a) Three-dimensional diagram of Pb isotope ratios in fly ashes (TPPKb, TPPKs, TPPNT, and CFB) and correspondent coals (CKb, CKs, CNT, and CFBB); (b) range for 206Pb/207Pb in different countries worldwide from west to east, i.e., USA: United States of America; S: Spain; UK: United Kingdom; B: Belgium; Sw: Switzerland; G: Germany; P: Poland; Se: Serbia; R: Russia; and Ch: China.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Crustal enrichment factor (CEFn/Mn) for fly ashes (TPPKb, TPPKs, TPPNT, and CFB).
Figure 7
Figure 7
(a) Risk assessment code (RAC) and (b) risk index (RI) for fly ashes (TPPKb, TPPKs, TPPNT, and CFB).
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