Qualitative and Quantitative Analyses of Hazardous Compounds from NTPC Rihand, India
1Environmental Monitoring Laboratory, Environmental Toxicology Group,, CSIR- Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR),, India
2Civil Engineering, GLA University, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India., Mathura, India
3Department of Environmental Science,, Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi,, India
4Division of Environment Science, School of Basic Sciences,, Babu Banarasi Das University, India
5Department of Environmental Science,, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, India
6Environmental Science, Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:
E-mail: mv075415@gmail.com (MV)
E-mail: mv075415@gmail.com (MV)
Received: September 03, 2024 | Revised: June 13, 2025 | Accepted: August 15, 2025 | Published: September 2025
Abstract
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.
Keywords
Heavy metals ; Pollutants ; Fly ash ; Polycyclic aromatic compounds ; Coal-fired power plant ; Toxic hazards
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