Mercury emission from coal-fired power plants in Poland

• Published in: Atmospheric environment (1994) Vol. 43; no. 35; pp. 5668 - 5673
• Main Authors: Glodek, Anna, Pacyna, Jozef M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-11-2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Coal combustion; Earth, ocean, space; Emissions; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Mercury; Meteorology; Pollution; Power energy sector; Poland; Europe; Poland, Upper Silesia Region; Coal combustion; Power energy sector; Mercury; Emissions; Trace element; Coal; Coal power plant; Air pollution; Poison; Combustion; Pollutant emission; Heavy metal
• ISSN: 1352-2310; 1873-2844
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2009.07.041

The paper reviews the current state of knowledge regarding sources of mercury emission in Poland. Due to the large quantities of coal burned at present, as well as taking into account existing reserves, coal remains the main energy source of energy in Poland. The data on coal consumption in Poland in the past, at present and in the future are discussed in the paper. Information on the content of mercury in Polish coals is presented.
Coal combustion processes for electricity and heat production are the main source of anthropogenic mercury emission in Poland. It is expected that the current emissions will decrease in the future due to implementation of efficient control measures. These measures for emission reduction are described in the paper. Results of estimated mercury emission from coal-fired power station situated in the Upper Silesia Region, Poland are investigated. A relationship between mercury emission to the air and the mercury content in the consumed coal in power station equipped with the electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) is discussed.