Effect of wet flue gas desulfurization on the concentrations and component profiles of condensable particulate matter from ultralow emission coal-fired power plants

This study investigated effect of wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) on the concentrations and component profiles of condensable particulate matter (CPM). This research was carried out in two ultralow emission coalfired power plants (CFPPs), which were equipped with pulverized coal furnaces (PC), in Hunan province, China. The CPM concentrations were measured following the US EPA Method 202. The stack emissions of filterable particulate matter (FPM) met the Chinese ultralow emission standards, and the CPM concentrations from CFPP A and B were respectively 12.12 and 17.64 mg/Nm(3). In the WFGD system, the removal efficiencies of the FPM and CPM were respectively 80% and 91% in CFPP A, 83% and 81% in CFPP B. SO42- accounted for the largest fraction of the total detected water-soluble ions in the CPM. Alkanes were the main component of the organic fraction in the CPM, which accounted for 95% in CFPP A and 92% in CFPP B. The removal efficiency of inorganic components from the CPM in CFPP A and B were 81% and 92%, respectively, possibly because the water-soluble ions could be dissolved and removed in the slurry; however, due to the limited solubility of alkanes and esters, the removal efficiency of organic components from the WFGD in CFPP A and B were only 17% and 31%, respectively. The emission factors (EFs) of the CPM for CFPP A and B range from 0.090 to 0.979 kg/(t of coal).