Distribution of volatile organic compounds during the combustion process in coal-fired power stations

This study concerns the distribution of volatile organic compounds (VOC) em itted during combustion processes in coal-fired power stations. Thermal des orption technique was employed to analyse VOC concentrations in gaseous emi ssions (trapped onto Carbotrap B sorbent) and solid samples (coal, fly ash and slag). An empirical parameter (gamma) was employed to evaluate the rela tionships between the compounds emitted during a real combustion process an d those obtained in coal analysis by thermal desorption. The gamma calculat ion does not provide any information about VOC emissions through solid effl uents as fly ash or slag. A comparison method was created for this purpose. The results obtained using this method confirm that combustion is almost c omplete for aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons. Chlorinated compounds are mainly formed during the combustion. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.