Particulate Matter Emission Characteristics in Coal-Fired Power Plants
Summary
Coal-fired power plants are among the largest stationary sources of airborne particulate matter, emitting a complex mixture of filterable and condensable particles. Primary emissions comprise ash and inorganic salts entrained by flue gas, while secondary particles form through gas‐to‐particle conversion of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. Particulate size distributions span from ultrafine nuclei (< 0.1 µm) to coarse fly ash (> 10 µm), influencing transport, deposition and health impacts. Composition varies with coal rank and combustion conditions, typically dominated by sulphates, nitrates, carbonaceous species and trace metals. Modern control technologies—electrostatic precipitators, fabric filters and wet flue-gas desulfurization—achieve removal efficiencies exceeding 95 %, yet residual emissions and downstream nucleation in ageing plumes remain significant. Emission factors and chemical speciation inform regulatory inventories and atmospheric models, revealing that condensable fractions can account for up to half of total PM2.5. Continued research addresses the interplay between emission controls, plume chemistry and regional air quality, with practical applications in optimising abatement strategies and reducing health burdens on surrounding populations.
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Particulate Matter Emission Characteristics in Coal-Fired Power Plants publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in particulate matter emission characteristics in coal-fired power plants across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
PM2.5: Particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 µm, capable of penetrating deep into the respiratory tract.
Condensable particulate matter (CPM): Vapour-phase emissions that nucleate or condense into particles upon cooling and dilution of flue gas.
Wet flue-gas desulfurization (WFGD): A scrubbing process using an alkaline slurry to remove sulphur dioxide and co‐remove particulate matter from combustion exhaust.
Atmospheric nucleation: The process by which gas-phase precursors form stable molecular clusters that grow into detectable aerosol particles.
References
- Emission Characteristics and Control Prospects of Primary PM2.5 from Fossil Fuel Power Plants in China. Aerosol and Air Quality Research (2016).
- Synergistic removal of dust using the wet flue gas desulfurization systems. Royal Society Open Science (2019).
- New particle formation in the fresh flue-gas plume from a coal-fired power plant: effect of flue-gas cleaning. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (2016).
- Impacts of condensable particulate matter on atmospheric organic aerosols and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in China. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (2022).
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