To the problem of trace elements and hydrocarbons emissions from combustion of coal

Coal is and at least by the end of this century is likely to remain the major source of energy in Czechoslovakia. Apart from the chronic air pollution problems associated with emissions of oxides of sulfur and flyash a growing attention is now increasingly centered on atmospheric trace elements emitted from coalfired power plants and on emission of hydrocarbons that are invariably detectable in the combustion product condensate. The air pollution emission data presented here are a result of systematic measurements of actual emissions. The measurement included virtually all larger power plants in Czechoslovakia and were carried out between 1975 and 1981. To allow for quantification of the emission data measured trace element mass balance was determined in these measurements. An attempt was also made to compare the relative power industry data obtained in Czechoslovakia with those reported from the USA. A broad spectrum of hydrocarbons found in the condensate of combustion products originating during the coal mass combustion seemed to indicate the presence of both burning and pyrolitic processes, but the mechanism of pyrolysis is as yet unclear. Apart from organics the condensate was found to contain a relatively large amount of fluoride compounds (hundreds of mg X 1(-1) condensate). There is suspicion that this fluorine may occupy an important position among the factors responsible for the ecologic damage caused by emissions from coal-fired power plants.