Advances in Primary Air Pollutant Emissions of Industrial Boilers in China: Emission Characteristics, Emission Inventories, and Mitigation Potentials

Industrial boilers are one of the important anthropogenic emission sources of primary air pollutants including particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitric oxide (NOx). China possesses the largest number of industrial boilers in the world, characterized by a wide spatial and industrial distribution, and a small scale of individual capacity. The study of air pollutant emissions of industrial boilers in China is an essential field for realizing the green and sustainable development of Chinese industrial sectors in terms of air pollution and CO2 reduction. Therefore, this study comprehensively summarized the research progress of industrial boilers in terms of primary air pollutant emissions. Currently, significant progress has been made in the study of air pollutant emissions from industrial boilers in China, including the following aspects: (1) the characterization of air pollutant emissions based on field data, (2) the development of multi-scale air pollutant emission inventories, and (3) the scenario analysis of emission reduction potentials and control strategies. In addition, this study further clarified the evolution of air pollution control technologies, based on the analysis of the development of air pollutant emission standards for industrial boilers. Further, the shortcomings of the research on air pollutant emissions of industrial boilers were elucidated, and the perspectives were proposed in view of the development requirements of air pollution control in China. This is expected to provide important contributions to the development of pollution-carbon reduction policies and formulation of green sustainable development strategies related to industrial boilers.