INAA of toxic elements in coal and their transfer into environments

An instrumental neutron activation analytical (INAA) technique is described for the determination of 26 toxic and other trace elements in Eastern Coal (NBS SRM-1632a), local coal and its ash. The coal ash was produced by heating coal at 750°C in a muffled furnace. The transfer of these elements to the environment on the complete compustion of coal is estimated from the difference between the elemental concentration of coal and its ash.     

Calorimetry in testing waste materials from the brown coal combustion

The calorimetric measurements were applied in testing the wastes collected from different furnaces in electric power plants as materials to be used in civil engineering. The fly ash materials were collected from two power stations based on different brown coal deposits and working with conventional and fluidized bed installation. The reactivity of high calcium fly ash from sub-bituminous coal combustion has been proved in calorimetric, conductometric, chemical shrinkage, and rheological measurements before their practical implementation on larger scale. Highly soluble components of fly ash contribute to the hydration products and structure formation, followed by setting and hardening of fly ash–cement mixture. These results have been the base of research project aimed in the innovative solutions dealing with the management of deposits of wastes generated as a result of coal combustion. The standardization and potential use on larger scale of these materials, necessary from the environmental point of view, seems to be the question of nearest future.     

Total reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis of fly ash from Bulgarian coal-fired power plants

The contents of Cl, Ca, K, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Ba and Pb in raw coal fly ash from five Bulgarian power plants were determined by total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF), using gallium as the internal standard. The samples were analysed as in slurry form in Triton? X-114. The experimental parameters, such as grain size, concentrations of fly ash slurry and excitation time were optimised. For validation of the method, the certified reference material BCR-176R fly ash was used. The precision of the results obtained is characterised by a relative standard deviation of approximately 10%. The resulting data confirm the suitability of TXRF for the simultaneous determination of major, minor and trace elements in coal fly ash samples. Further advantages provided by TXRF are easy sample preparation (no sample dissolution) and the small sample amount required for analysis.     

Characterization and quantification of persistent organic pollutants in fly ash from coal fueled thermal power stations in India

The burning of pulverized coal to produce energy for generation of electricity in thermal power plants results in huge quantity of coal ash of varying properties. In India the coal based thermal power plants have been the major source of power generation in the past and would continue for decades to come. Because of the increase in electricity production, the amount of ash produced will increase proportionally. Very few studies on characterization of organic constituents in fly ash from Indian thermal power plants have been reported in the literature. In the present study, the fly ashes generated from five thermal power stations from different parts of India were investigated regarding the elaboration of distribution pattern of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as PAHs and PCBs in them. The PAHs in the fly ash samples were identified and quantified using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC-UV) whereas the estimation of PCB congeners was carried out using gas chromatography (GC-ECD). Lower molecular weight (MW) PAHs, were found to be predominant in fly ash samples. The concentration of Benzo(a)Pyrene which is the most potent carcinogenic PAH, varied between 0.82 ng/g and 18.14 ng/g with a mean concentration of 9.02 ng/g. Among the PCB congeners, CB-77 is having higher toxicity value, the concentrations of which in the fly ash samples were in the range of 4.58 ng/g to 104.98 ng/g with a mean value of 62.53 ng/g.     

Neutron activation analysis and natural radioactivity measurements of lignite and ashes from Megalopolis basin,Greece

Elemental concentrations and specific activity values of natural radionuclides were measured in lignite, bottom ash and fly ash samples collected from the Megalopolis power plant A in southern Greece, using nuclear analytical techniques. The results show that the elements As, Br, Mo, Sb, Se, and U were enriched in the lignite samples, the elements Mo, Se and U in bottom ash, while fly ash samples were enriched in As, Mo, Sb, Se and U. Specific activity measurements also show that ²³⁸U (²²⁶Ra) activity values in lignite and both ash samples were high relative to the corresponding data for coal and earth crust given in the literature. As a high quantity of fly ash is produced during the operation of the lignite power plant A, this power plant should be considered as a major source of air particulate pollution and radiation to the population living in the vicinity of lignite burning power plant.     

Instrumental neutron activation analysis of coal and its combustion residues from a power plant

A growing demand of electrical energy derived from coal combustion led to a significant increase of coal ash as residues. Approximately 70 % of the fly ashes are recycled, while most of the bottom ashes have been land-filled in the ash pond in Korea. In this work, to evaluate the potential impacts of the residues from a coal power plant on the environment, its inorganic elemental components were determined by INAA and PGAA. Coal ash samples were collected from the biggest power plant complex in Korea. These samples were analyzed by using the NAA facilities in the HANARO research reactor of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. A total of 31 elements were analyzed in the samples, and certified reference materials were used for the analytical quality control. The enrichment status of a given metal in fuel coal and ashes was investigated by its concentration ratio. In order to assess the impact of the coal combustion residues on ecosystem, their concentrations determined for each respective type of the samples were compared to both reference data and nearby beach sand samples.     

Multielement analysis of Chinese Environmental Reference Materials by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) has been applied for the simultaneous determination of up to 33 elements including major, minor and trace elements in the environmental reference materials soil and coal fly ash from China. The procedure involves both short and long irradiations followed by the measurement of the gamma spectra with a Ge(Li) detector. The analytical results are presented and discussed.     

Trace elements in size-fractionated coal ash from two Polish power plants

Concentration of 38 elements in size-fractionated brwon and hard coal ash from two Polish power plants have been measured by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Based on the enrichment factors calculated relative to iron and average crustal rock composition, the elements are grouped into three classes: Group I elements show little or no enrichment in the small fraction; Group II elements increase their enrichment with decreasing particle size; the behaviour of Group III elements is intermediate between those of elements in Groups I and II.     

Trace elements of coal,coal ashes and fly ashes by activation analysis with short-lived nuclides

On irradiation with neutrons, some of the interesting trace elements in coal, coal ash and fly ash produce short-lived nuclides which may be determined—together with some of the matrix elements—by activation analysis. This enables the characterization of samples. To find out the distribution of elements in the gaseous or aerosol exhaust of fossil-fired power plants, we simulated the combustion in a quartz apparatus containing a cold trap, using the combustion temperature (780 °C) employed for the standard ash determination. High Se values were found in the cold trap deposits from black coal from Poland. Halogens were also found in the deposits.     

煤中15种微量元素在燃烧产物中的分配

建立了燃煤中１５种向量元素在悄灰和底灰中含量分布的经验公式，该公式可以估算煤中微量元素在燃烧产物中的分配及传输通量。煤中非挥发性元素大部分存在于底灰和飞灰中，挥发性元素进入大气的量较高。     

Assessment of coal and ash environmental impact with the use of gamma- and X-ray spectrometry

Gamma-ray spectrometry (GS), energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) analysis methods and wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) were applied for the studies of some coal components, e.g., sulphur, light and heavy metal element concentrations and naturally occurring radioactive isotope contents. Hundred fifty coal samples originating mostly from eight different coal mines from Upper Silesian Coal Basin and 150 samples of ash obtained from these coal samples in laboratory by total combustion at final temperature of 820°C, were analyzed. Such comparitive analyses can be helpful in selection of most suitable kind of coal for burning in electrical power and heat plants to minimize the environmental pollution.     

Trace element content of some Polish hard and brown coals

Instrumental neutron activation analysis /INAA/ method was applied to measure major, minor and trace elements in 34 samples of hard and brown coal originating from eight Polish coal mines. The elemental concentrations of 38 elements /Na, Mg, Al, Cl, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ag, Cd, In, Sb, I, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Lu, W, Au and Th/ are presented and compared with published data for coals from various origin. Enrichment factors, calculated relative to iron and the average crustal rock composition, indicated that several elements are highly enriched in Polish coals.     

Establishing a basis for nuclear archaeometry in Australia using the 20 MW OPAL research reactor

The k ₀-method of standardisation for instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) has been used at the OPAL research reactor to determine the elemental composition of three certified reference materials: coal fly ash (SRM 1633b), brick clay (SRM 679) and Montana soil (SRM 2711). Of the 41 certified elements in the three materials, 88 percent were within five percent of the certified values and all determinations were within 15 percent of the certified values. The average difference between the measured and certified values was 0.1 percent, with a standard deviation of 4.1 percent. Since these reference materials are widely used as standards in the analysis of archaeological ceramics by INAA, it has been concluded that the INAA facility in Australia is particularly well-suited for nuclear archaeometry.     

Investigations of the influence of different fly ashes on cement hydration

Investigations of physico-chemical properties of three kinds of fly ash and their influence on cement hydration were performed in this work. Thermal analysis, microcalorimetry, infrared absorption and others were used. It was confirmed that the kind of coal and combustion conditions essentially influence physico-chemical properties of fly ash and in consequence influence cement hydration. Investigated fly ashes show in cement system so-called pozzolanic activity. Fly ash from combustion of brown coal in fluidized furnace revealed better activity compared to other investigated ones. This work is an introduction to more extensive investigation of fly ash activation.     

Determination of cadmium,mercury and lead in coal fly ash by slurry sampling electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Ultrasonic slurry sampling electrothermal vaporization isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (USS-ETV-ID-ICP-MS) has been applied to the determination of Cd, Hg and Pb in coal fly ash samples. Thioacetamide (TAC) was used as the modifier. Since the sensitivities of the elements studied in coal fly ash slurry and aqueous solution were quite different, isotope dilution method was used for the determination of Cd, Hg and Pb in these coal fly ash samples. The isotope ratios of each element were calculated from the peak areas of each injection peak. This method has been applied to the determination of Cd, Hg and Pb in NIST SRM 1633a coal fly ash reference material and a coal fly ash sample collected from Kaohsiung area. Analysis results of reference sample NIST SRM 1633a coal fly ash agreed satisfactorily with the certified values. The other sample determined by isotope dilution and method of standard additions was agreed satisfactorily. Precision was better than 6% for most of the determinations and accuracy was better than 4% with the USS-ETV-ID-ICP-MS method. Detection limits estimated from standard addition curves were in the range of 24–58, 6–28 and 108–110 ng g⁻¹ for Cd, Hg and Pb, respectively.     

Trace elements in brown coal and its products of combustion

Concentrations of 38 elements in brown coal, bottom ash and size fractionated ESP coal ash from the Belchatów I Power Plant were determined by INAA. Based on enrichment factors calculated relatively to iron and average crustal rock composition as a function of particle size the elements are grouped into three classes: Group I, elements that show little or no enrichment in the small particles /Na, Mg, Al, K, Sc, Ti, Mn, Co, Rb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Lu, and Th/; Group II, elements whose enrichment increases greatly with decreasing particle size /Cl, Zn, As, Se, Br, Cd, Sb, and I/; and Group III, elements whose behaviour is intermediate to that of elements in Group I and II /Ca, V, Cr, Ni, Cu, Ga, Sr, Mo, In, W, and Au/.     

Comparative Toxicity of Fly Ash: An In Vitro Study

Fly ash produced during coal combustion is one of the major sources of air and water pollution, but the data on the impact of micrometer-size fly ash particles on human cells is still incomplete. Fly ash samples were collected from several electric power stations in the United States (Rockdale, TX; Dolet Hill, Mansfield, LA; Rockport, IN; Muskogee, OK) and from a metallurgic plant located in the Russian Federation (Chelyabinsk Electro-Metallurgical Works OJSC). The particles were characterized using dynamic light scattering, atomic force, and hyperspectral microscopy. According to chemical composition, the fly ash studied was ferro-alumino-silicate mineral containing substantial quantities of Ca, Mg, and a negligible concentration of K, Na, Mn, and Sr. The toxicity of the fly ash microparticles was assessed in vitro using HeLa cells (human cervical cancer cells) and Jurkat cells (immortalized human T lymphocytes). Incubation of cells with different concentrations of fly ash resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in cell viability for all fly ash variants. The most prominent cytotoxic effect in HeLa cells was produced by the ash particles from Rockdale, while the least was produced by the fly ash from Chelyabinsk. In Jurkat cells, the lowest toxicity was observed for fly ash collected from Rockport, Dolet Hill and Muscogee plants. The fly ash from Rockdale and Chelyabinsk induced DNA damage in HeLa cells, as revealed by the single cell electrophoresis, and disrupted the normal nuclear morphology. The interaction of fly ash microparticles of different origins with cells was visualized using dark-field microscopy and hyperspectral imaging. The size of ash particles appeared to be an important determinant of their toxicity, and the smallest fly ash particles from Chelyabinsk turned out to be the most cytotoxic to Jukart cells and the most genotoxic to HeLa cells.     

The leachability of elements in solid wastes

Landfills and waste disposal sites are now routinely used for disposal of solid wastes and their incinerator ashes. Trace elements from these ashes are leached by rain and acid rain into nearby waterways providing a pathway for toxic elements to re-enter the food chain and the human life cycle. This paper examines the mechanism and the extent of leaching of 20 elements viz. Ag, Al, As, Ba, Br, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Fe, Hg, La, Sb, Sc, Ce, Sm, Ta, V, W and Zn. Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was used for the assay. The solid wastes studied are municipal refuse incinerator ash, coal fly ash, hospital incinerator ash, raw sewage sludge and its incinerator ash.     

煤中微量元素在燃烧过程中的变化

在分析微量元素燃烧过程中迁移变化机理的基础上,对电厂用煤和煤灰进行了采样测试,分析了电厂燃煤过程中微量元素的析出变化及在各种灰中的分布富集规律,同时用五个不同的温度段分别对煤进行了燃烧实验,研究了在不同温度下,微量元素从煤中析出的浓度和析出率,通过实验分析,。多数有害微量元素在飞灰中的富集浓度高于其它灰中,燃烧时温度的高低是影响微量的高低是影响微量元素迁移析出的重要因素,温度越高,有害微量元素析出率相对越大。     

燃煤飞灰中铁质微珠的显微结构及其组成研究

选用我国三个典型燃煤煤种的电厂飞灰中铁质微珠,进行显微结构与物相组成等方面的研究。揭示出铁质微珠中存在空心微珠、子母珠和实心微珠三种显微颗粒类型,在这些显微颗粒表面可识别出以微粒状和八面体自形晶两种方式存在的赤铁矿和磁铁矿析晶;元素分析表明,燃烧褐煤电厂铁质微珠主要由Fe、Ca、Al、和Si元素组成,燃烧烟煤和无烟煤的电厂铁质微珠主要由Fe、Al和Si元素组成;物相分析发现,Fe在铁质微珠中以四种存在形式：Fe3O4、α-Fe2O3、γ-Fe2O3和Fe3+-玻璃相。这些物相在三个电厂飞灰中呈现出不同的分布特征,反映出不同的燃煤煤种在锅炉中燃烧温度的差异。随着温度的升高,Fe3O4先氧化为γ-Fe2O3,或γ-Fe2O3与Fe3O4的固熔体,然后再转变为α-Fe2O3,当温度超过 1 400 ℃时,Fe2O3又转化为Fe3O4。