Behaviors of Chromium in Coal-Fired Power Plants and Associated Atmospheric Emissions in Guizhou, Southwest China
Coal burning is a main concern for a range of atmospheric pollutants, including the environmentally sensitive element chromium (Cr). Cr migrates to the environment through stack emissions and can leach out from solid coal-burning byproducts, thereby causing adverse effects on the ecosystem. In this...
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MDPI AG
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/9/951 |
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| author | Zhonggen Li Qingfeng Wang Zhongjiu Xiao Leilei Fan Dan Wang Xinyu Li Jia Du Junwei Cheng |
| author_facet | Zhonggen Li Qingfeng Wang Zhongjiu Xiao Leilei Fan Dan Wang Xinyu Li Jia Du Junwei Cheng |
| author_sort | Zhonggen Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Coal burning is a main concern for a range of atmospheric pollutants, including the environmentally sensitive element chromium (Cr). Cr migrates to the environment through stack emissions and can leach out from solid coal-burning byproducts, thereby causing adverse effects on the ecosystem. In this study, atmospheric emissions of Cr from six coal-fired power plants (CFPPs), as well as the distribution of Cr inside these CFPPs in Guizhou Province, Southwest China, were investigated. Among the six CFPPs, one was a circulating fluidized bed boiler and the others were pulverized coal boilers. The results showed that Cr in the feed fuel of these CFPPs ranged from 39.5 to 101.5 mg·kg<sup>−1</sup> (average: 68.0 ± 24.8 mg·kg<sup>−1</sup>) and was approximately four times higher than the national and global average. Cr in the feed fuel correlated significantly with the ash yield, demonstrating that Cr in coal is closely associated with ash-forming minerals. After the coal combustion and the treatment by different air pollution control devices, most Cr (>92%) in the installation was retained in the captured fly ash and bottom ash, with less as gypsum (0.69–7.94%); eventually, only 0.01–0.03% of Cr was emitted into the atmosphere with a concentration of 1.4–2.2 μg·Nm<sup>−3</sup>. The atmospheric emission factors of Cr for these utility boilers were as low as 14.86 ± 3.62 mg Cr·t<sup>−1</sup> coal, 7.72 ± 2.53 μg Cr (kW·h)<sup>−1</sup>, and 0.70 ± 0.19 g Cr·TJ<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. About 981 kg·y<sup>−1</sup> of Cr was discharged into the atmosphere from Guizhuo’s CFPPs in 2017, much lower than previous reported values. Most of the Cr in the CFPPs ended up in solid combustion products, identifying the need for the careful disposal of high-Cr-containing ashes (up to 500 mg·kg<sup>−1</sup>) to prevent possible mobilization into the environment. |
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| language | English |
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| spelling | doaj.art-b364b47650e14a5889d4da18ab4142e72023-11-20T12:45:47ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332020-09-0111995110.3390/atmos11090951Behaviors of Chromium in Coal-Fired Power Plants and Associated Atmospheric Emissions in Guizhou, Southwest ChinaZhonggen Li0Qingfeng Wang1Zhongjiu Xiao2Leilei Fan3Dan Wang4Xinyu Li5Jia Du6Junwei Cheng7College of Resources and Environment, Zunyi Normal University, Zunyi 563006, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Zunyi Normal University, Zunyi 563006, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Zunyi Normal University, Zunyi 563006, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Zunyi Normal University, Zunyi 563006, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Zunyi Normal University, Zunyi 563006, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Zunyi Normal University, Zunyi 563006, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Zunyi Normal University, Zunyi 563006, ChinaCoal burning is a main concern for a range of atmospheric pollutants, including the environmentally sensitive element chromium (Cr). Cr migrates to the environment through stack emissions and can leach out from solid coal-burning byproducts, thereby causing adverse effects on the ecosystem. In this study, atmospheric emissions of Cr from six coal-fired power plants (CFPPs), as well as the distribution of Cr inside these CFPPs in Guizhou Province, Southwest China, were investigated. Among the six CFPPs, one was a circulating fluidized bed boiler and the others were pulverized coal boilers. The results showed that Cr in the feed fuel of these CFPPs ranged from 39.5 to 101.5 mg·kg<sup>−1</sup> (average: 68.0 ± 24.8 mg·kg<sup>−1</sup>) and was approximately four times higher than the national and global average. Cr in the feed fuel correlated significantly with the ash yield, demonstrating that Cr in coal is closely associated with ash-forming minerals. After the coal combustion and the treatment by different air pollution control devices, most Cr (>92%) in the installation was retained in the captured fly ash and bottom ash, with less as gypsum (0.69–7.94%); eventually, only 0.01–0.03% of Cr was emitted into the atmosphere with a concentration of 1.4–2.2 μg·Nm<sup>−3</sup>. The atmospheric emission factors of Cr for these utility boilers were as low as 14.86 ± 3.62 mg Cr·t<sup>−1</sup> coal, 7.72 ± 2.53 μg Cr (kW·h)<sup>−1</sup>, and 0.70 ± 0.19 g Cr·TJ<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. About 981 kg·y<sup>−1</sup> of Cr was discharged into the atmosphere from Guizhuo’s CFPPs in 2017, much lower than previous reported values. Most of the Cr in the CFPPs ended up in solid combustion products, identifying the need for the careful disposal of high-Cr-containing ashes (up to 500 mg·kg<sup>−1</sup>) to prevent possible mobilization into the environment.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/9/951chromiumcoal-fired power plantscontrol efficiencyatmospheric emissions |
| spellingShingle | Zhonggen Li Qingfeng Wang Zhongjiu Xiao Leilei Fan Dan Wang Xinyu Li Jia Du Junwei Cheng Behaviors of Chromium in Coal-Fired Power Plants and Associated Atmospheric Emissions in Guizhou, Southwest China Atmosphere chromium coal-fired power plants control efficiency atmospheric emissions |
| title | Behaviors of Chromium in Coal-Fired Power Plants and Associated Atmospheric Emissions in Guizhou, Southwest China |
| title_full | Behaviors of Chromium in Coal-Fired Power Plants and Associated Atmospheric Emissions in Guizhou, Southwest China |
| title_fullStr | Behaviors of Chromium in Coal-Fired Power Plants and Associated Atmospheric Emissions in Guizhou, Southwest China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Behaviors of Chromium in Coal-Fired Power Plants and Associated Atmospheric Emissions in Guizhou, Southwest China |
| title_short | Behaviors of Chromium in Coal-Fired Power Plants and Associated Atmospheric Emissions in Guizhou, Southwest China |
| title_sort | behaviors of chromium in coal fired power plants and associated atmospheric emissions in guizhou southwest china |
| topic | chromium coal-fired power plants control efficiency atmospheric emissions |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/9/951 |
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