title: Temporal trends and spatial variation characteristics of primary air pollutants emissions from coal-fired industrial boilers in Beijing, China.
abstract: Coal-fired combustion is recognized as a significant anthropogenic source of atmospheric compounds in Beijing, causing heavy air pollution events and associated deterioration in visibility. Obtaining an accurate understanding of the temporal trends and spatial variation characteristics of emissions from coal-fired industrial combustion is essential for predicting air quality changes and evaluating the effectiveness of current control measures. In this study, an integrated emission inventory of primary air pollutants emitted from coal-fired industrial boilers in Beijing is developed for the period of 2007-2013 using a technology-based approach. Future emission trends are projected through 2030 based on current energy-related and emission control policies. Our analysis shows that there is a general downward trend in primary air pollutants emissions because of the implementation of stricter local emission standards and the promotion by the Beijing municipal government of converting from coal-fired industrial boilers to gas-fired boilers. However, the ratio of coal consumed by industrial boilers to total coal consumption has been increasing, raising concerns about the further improvement of air quality in Beijing. Our estimates indicate that the total emissions of PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NOx, CO and VOCs from coal-fired industrial boilers in Beijing in 2013 are approximately 19,242 t, 13,345 t, 26,615 t, 22,965 t, 63,779 t and 1406 t, respectively. Under the current environmental policies and relevant energy savings and emission control plans, it may be possible to reduce NOx and other air pollutant emissions by 94% and 90% by 2030, respectively, if advanced flue gas purification technologies are implemented and coal is replaced with natural gas in the majority of existing boilers.
authors.affiliation: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Environmental Protection, Beijing 100037, China.
authors.forename: Yifeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Center of Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China. Electronic address: hztian@bnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Hezhong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Environmental Protection, Beijing 100037, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Environmental Protection, Beijing 100037, China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Environmental Protection, Beijing 100037, China.
authors.forename: Junling
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Environmental Protection, Beijing 100037, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Environmental Protection, Beijing 100037, China; School of Environmental Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China. Electronic address: pantao@cee.cn.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Wuhan Environmental Protection Sciences Research Institute, Wuhan 43005, China.
authors.forename: Junrui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Center of Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
authors.forename: Shenbing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.affiliation: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Center of Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Environmental Protection, Beijing 100037, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoqing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000068476:Beijing; D003031:Coal; D007221:Industry
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D003031:Coal
keywords: Coal-fired industrial boilers; Emission inventory; Hazardous air pollutants; Spatial variation; Substitution of coal with gas; Temporal trends