Particulate Matter Emissions from Coal Combustion
Summary
Coal combustion remains a major source of atmospheric particulate matter (PM), with significant implications for air quality, human health and climate. Particulate emissions arise from complex processes during coal pulverisation, combustion, mineral transformation and flue-gas cleaning. The emitted particles vary in size from coarse (>10 µm) to fine (≤2.5 µm) and ultrafine (<0.1 µm) fractions. Fine and ultrafine particles penetrate deep into the respiratory system and influence cloud formation and radiative forcing. Key formation mechanisms include mineral matter vapour release, homogeneous nucleation of new particles, growth via heterogeneous condensation and coagulation, and char fragmentation with ash agglomeration. Emission controls such as electrostatic precipitators, fabric filters and wet flue-gas desulphurisation can achieve removal efficiencies above 99 % for PM2.5, but performance depends on operational conditions and coal characteristics. Recent advances in fuel pretreatment, additive injection and hybrid filtration seek to reduce ultrafine emissions and improve capture. A detailed understanding of the interplay between combustion conditions, coal mineralogy and control technology is essential to mitigate health risks, meet tightening regulations and inform practical strategies for cleaner coal utilisation worldwide.
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Particulate Matter Emissions from Coal Combustion publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in particulate matter emissions from coal combustion across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Particulate Matter (PM2.5, PM10): Particles in flue gas with aerodynamic diameters less than 2.5 µm and 10 µm, respectively, critical for health and visibility impacts.
Ultrafine Particles: Particles smaller than 0.1 µm formed by vapour-phase nucleation and growth processes.
Homogeneous Nucleation: Generation of new particles directly from supersaturated vapours without solid surfaces.
Heterogeneous Condensation: Deposition of vapour-phase species onto existing particle surfaces, leading to size growth.
Electrostatic Precipitator: A device that imparts electrical charges to particles in flue gas and collects them on oppositely charged plates for removal.
References
- Effects of Temperature and Chemical Speciation of Mineral Elements on PM10 Formation during Zhundong Coal Combustion. Energies (2022).
- Effect of External Mineral Addition on PM Generated from Zhundong Coal Combustion. Energies (2023).
- Impacts of Nano SiO2 Addition on the Formation of Ultrafine Particulate Matter during Coal Combustion. Atmosphere (2022).
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