Fine particulate-bound arsenic and selenium from coal-fired power plants: Formation, removal and bioaccessibility

The arsenic (As) and selenium (Se) in fine particulate matter (PM₁₀) have attracted increasing attentions due to their health effects. However, the emission control of fine particulate-bound arsenic and selenium (fine particulate-bound As/Se) from coal-fired power plants still faces various challenges. Understanding the formation and characteristics of fine particulate-bound As/Se is crucial for developing specific control technologies. This study clarifies the formation mechanism, removal characteristics, and inhalation bioaccessibility of fine particulate-bound As/Se from industrial coal-fired power plants through methods including aerosol generation, As/Se speciation determination, and in vitro bioaccessibility testing. The findings demonstrated that PM₁ from pulverized coal-fired (PC) boilers was enriched with As/Se in terms of concentration and mass distribution. Instead, As/Se was mainly distributed in PM₂.₅–₁₀ from circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boilers. Limestone injection in CFB boilers promoted As/Se enrichment in coarse PM. Fine particulate-bound As was mainly formed by chemical adsorption of As vapors by Ca-minerals, while the formation of fine particulate-bound Se was closely related to active Ca-minerals and Fe-minerals. Furthermore, Ca-bound As was easy to remove by electrostatic precipitator (ESP) and the removal of physically adsorbed SeO₂(s) was difficult, which was caused by the specific resistivity of different mineral components. Importantly, finer particulate-bound As/Se posed higher inhalation bioaccessibility, following the order of PM₁ ≥ PM₁–₂.₅ > PM₂.₅–₁₀. In particular, Ca-bound Se in fine PM owned high bioaccessibility. Based on these findings, measures were proposed to suppress the formation of fine particulate-bound As/Se in the furnace and/or strengthen its removal in the post-combustion stage.