Determination of trace organic compounds in effluents from a coal-fired power plant

Solid and gaseous emissions from a power plant fired with South African coal and maintained at full load (320 MWe) were characterized for their composition in polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and n-alkanes (n-A). 25 n-A (from C12 to C36) and 34 PAH (from naphthalene to coronene) were determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Samples were collected in different points of the plant: the bottom hopper of the boiler, the electrostatic precipitator (ESP) hopper and the ductwork system before and after the ESP. The pulverized coal was also analysed by the same procedure in order to find any correlation with the composition of emissions. PAH concentration profiles of the coal and the combustion products, which will be useful for evaluation of environmental impact, were obtained.