Zinc isotopic composition of particulate matter generated during the combustion of coal and coal + tire-derived fuels.
Atmospheric Zn emissions from the burning of coal and tire-derived fuel (TDF) for power generation can be considerable. In an effort to lay the foundation for tracking these contributions, we evaluated the Zn isotopes of coal, a mixture of 95 wt % coal + 5 wt % TDF, and the particulate matter (PM) derived from their combustion in a power-generating plant. The average Zn concentrations and δ(66)Zn were 36 mg/kg and 183 mg/kg and +0.24‰ and +0.13‰ for the coal and coal + TDF, respectively. The δ(66)Zn of the PM sequestered in the cyclone-type mechanical separator was the lightest measured, -0.48‰ for coal and -0.81‰ for coal+TDF. The δ(66)Zn of the PM from the electrostatic precipitator showed a slight enrichment in the heavier Zn isotopes relative to the starting material. PM collected from the stack had the heaviest δ(66)Zn in the system, +0.63‰ and +0.50‰ for the coal and coal + TDF, respectively. Initial fractionation during the generation of a Zn-rich vapor is followed by temperature-dependent fractionation as Zn condenses onto the PM. The isotopic changes of the two fuel types are similar, suggesting that their inherent chemical differences have only a secondary impact on the isotopic fractionation process.
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States. dborrok@utep.edu
David M
DM
Borrok
Reto
R
Gieré
Minghua
M
Ren
Edward R
ER
Landa
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D003031:Coal / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006358:Hot Temperature; D017745:Incineration; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D011210:Power Plants / Q000295:instrumentation; D015033:Zinc Isotopes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
D000393:Air Pollutants; D003031:Coal; D052638:Particulate Matter; D015033:Zinc Isotopes