Emissions and particle-size distributions of minor and trace elements at two western coal-fired power plants equipped with cold-side electrostatic precipitators

Stack emissions from two coal-fired power plants equipped with cold-side electrostatic precipitators were monitored to determine concentrations and particle sizes of 42 elements. The power plants burned low sulfur bituminous and subbituminous coals. Emissions were measured by instrumental neutron activation analysis, atomic adsorption spectroscopy, and X-ray fluorescence. While relative penetrations of most elements from the two plants were similar despite size and operating differences, differences in penetrations of zinc, lead, barium, chromium, cobalt, vanadium, rubidium, and cesium were traced to coal composition and efficiency characteristics of individual electrostatic precipitators.