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Trace element partitioning behavior of coal gangue-fired CFB plant: experimental and equilibrium calculation

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Abstract

Energy recovery is a promising method for coal gangue utilization, during which the prevention of secondary pollution, especially toxic metal emission, is a significant issue in the development of coal gangue utilization. In the present study, investigation into trace element partitioning behavior from a coal gangue-fired power plant in Shanxi province, China, has been conducted. Besides the experimental analysis, thermodynamic equilibrium calculation was also conducted to help the further understanding on the effect of different parameters. Results showed that Hg, As, Be, and Cd were highly volatile elements in the combustion of coal gangue, which were notably enriched in fly ash and may be emitted into the environment via the gas phase. Cr and Mn were mostly non-volatile and were enriched in the bottom ash. Pb, Co, Zn, Cu, and Ni were semi-volatile elements and were enriched in the fly ash to varying degrees. Equilibrium calculations show that the air/fuel ratio and the presence of Cl highly affect the element volatility. The presence of mineral phases, such as aluminosilicates, depresses the volatility of elements by chemical immobilization and competition in Cl. The coal gangue, fly ash, and bottom ash all passed the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP), and their alkalinity buffers the acidity of the solution and contributes to the low solubility of the trace elements.

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Acknowledgments

This study was sponsored by The Common Development Fund of Beijing and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51472007, 51172003, and 51074009); the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program, 2012AA06A114), the China National Key Technology R&D Program (2013BAC14B07), and the Ministry of land and resources nonprofit industry research specific (201511062-02).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing Key Laboratory for Solid Waste Utilization and Management and Department of Energy and Resource Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, People’s Republic of China

    Yingyi Zhang, Lili Liu, Xidong Wang & Zuotai Zhang

  2. URS Corp., PO BOX 1959, Albany, OR, 97321, USA

    Jinichiro Nakano

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  1. Yingyi Zhang
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  2. Jinichiro Nakano
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  3. Lili Liu
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  4. Xidong Wang
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  5. Zuotai Zhang
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Correspondence to Zuotai Zhang.

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Responsible editor: Angeles Blanco

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Zhang, Y., Nakano, J., Liu, L. et al. Trace element partitioning behavior of coal gangue-fired CFB plant: experimental and equilibrium calculation. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 15469–15478 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4738-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4738-6

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