Determination of concentrations of non-volatile elements in fly ash released from coal combustion using EDXRF

Abstract

In this study, the concentration of thirteen non-volatile elements in coal fly ash samples obtained from the Kangal coal-fired thermal power plant located in Sivas province of Turkey was determined using an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometer. Non-volatile elements in coal fly ash samples were analysed in three groups: major (Al, Si, and Ca), rare earth (Y, La, Ce, Pr, and Nd), and other trace elements (Ga, Rb, Mo, Ba, and Hf). The average concentrations of Ca, Si and Al were found as 22.8, 10.9 and 5.4%, respectively. The average concentrations of Pr, Y and, Nd were found as 23.9, 19.1 and 78.2, respectively. La and Ce were observed below the detection limit of 2 mg/kg, except for two samples. The average concentrations of Ga, Rb, Mo, Ba and Hf were found as 18.6, 51.1, 177.3, 993.5 and 3.9 mg/kg, respectively. According to the average values of enrichment factor estimated for elements analysed in fly ash samples, Mo is found extremely enriched while Ca and Hf are significantly enriched.