Mercury emissions from a coal-fired power plant and their impact on the nearby environment

This study investigated Hg emissions from a coal-fired power plant (CFPP) and their impact on the nearby environment. Atmospheric Hg concentrations were measured at sampling sites near a CFPP located in central Taiwan from November 2008 to March 2011. The mean gaseous and particulate Hg concentrations were 2.59-4.12 ng/m³ and 105-182 pg/m³, respectively, with gaseous Hg predominant at all sites (approximately 96% of the total atmospheric Hg). The seasonal variations of both gaseous and particle Hg concentrations in the atmosphere showed a similar pattern, with the highest concentrations in the cold season and the lowest in warm season. The mean emission factor of 13.1 mg/ton was found for the CFPP burning bituminous coal, with an electrostatic precipitator (ESP), flue gas desulfurization (FGD), and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) in series as air pollution control devices (APCDs). This figure was significantly lower than that measured at various power facilities, probably due to different fuel type, APCDs configuration, and flue gas condition. The modeling of the Industrial Source Complex Short Term (ISCST) revealed that the contribution of the CFPP to ambient atmospheric Hg was minimal (less than 1%).