Qualitative and Quantitative Analyses of Hazardous Compounds from NTPC Rihand, India

Multiple hazardous compounds, including gases, heavy metals (HMs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), are released during coal combustion in coal-fired power plants (C-FPPs). Pollutants impact environment and human health negatively. To understand hazardous pollutants, this study collected samples from a coal-fired thermal power station. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to characterize the coal and its residues. Ten HMs (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, As, Se, and Hg) were identified and measured. The highest concentration of Pb (90.41±6.41 mg/kg) was measured in coal, while 201.69±35.69 mg/kg and 178.80±73.22 mg/kg were noted for coal-fly ash (CFA) and bottom ash (BA) samples. PAHs contents ∑16PAHs were highest for Fluorene + Acenaphthene (33.81±2.56 mg/kg). Post-hoc test showed all analyzed HMs except Cu were significantly transferred from coal to CFA, whereas only Co, Cr, and Zn were significantly transferred to BA. ∑16PAHs were significantly transferred from CFA except for fluorene + acenaphthene and anthracene, while all PAHs were significantly transferred to BA except anthracene. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a statistically significant effect of p < 0.05. High quantities of HMs and PAHs in coal, CFA, and BA samples could cause air, soil, and water pollution.