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Western Kentucky University

Arsenic and Selenium Distribution in Coal-Fired Plant Samples

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Arsenic and selenium distributions in coal-fired plant samples are studied. This research includes arsenic and selenium concentrations in samples of coal, fly ash, bottom ash, economizer ash, Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) slurry and flue gas taken from four power plants with the goal being to examine the distribution of these metals in these materials and calculate a materials balance for the system. All samples were analyzed using ICP-ES. This research shows that 60-80% of the arsenic in coal-fired plant samples will be associated with the fly ash. Approximately 35-55% of the selenium will be associated with the fly ash and approximately 30-40% will be associated with the FGD slurry materials. The amount of arsenic and selenium present in the flue gases escaping the stack is very little, 6-7% or less. Hopefully, research in this area will be helpful when setting emissions limits, identifying and disposing of hazardous wastes and improving air pollution control devices for maximum metal removal.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Chemistry
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Department of Chemistry
Year
2009

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Norris, Pauline Rose Hack
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Wei-Ping Pan (Director),Cathleen Webb,Rui Zhang

Subjects

dc:subject × 8

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/52
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:digitalcommons.wku.edu:theses-1052

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Western Kentucky University
Base URL
digitalcommons.wku.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Norris, Pauline Rose Hack. Arsenic and Selenium Distribution in Coal-Fired Plant Samples. 2009. https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/52