Arsenic, cadmium, lead and thallium in coal ash from individual household furnaces

Abstract52 coal ash samples from individual households were analyzed to determine the pH and the concentrations of four toxic elements: arsenic, cadmium, lead and thallium. The method used was atomic absorption spectrometry with graphite-furnace atomization. The ash samples originated from various coal grades and statistical analysis showed existing correlations between the concentrations of studied elements, pH and the coal grades. The maximum concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, lead and thallium were 50,900, 43,500, 128,900, and 6660 µg/kg, respectively. The results were compared with the published data for the ash of industrial origin.

Analytical methods for the determination of Cr6+ from fixed source emissions

This study aimed to develop two analytical methods for the determination of Cr6+ from fixed source emissions, such as the molecular absorption spectrophotometric method (UV-VIS) and the graphite furnace atomization absorption spectrometry method (GTAAS). The first stage in the development of analytical methods involves establishing the optimal operating conditions for, taking air samples, treating them for analysis, and the proceeding for analysis, followed by validating the method by determining performance parameters. For both methods is highly recommended, the use of isokinetic sampling with a sampling probe by the heated glass, quartz, or PTFE. The limit of detection and the limit of quantification were concluded to be 12.38µg/m3 and 40µg/m3, respectively for the UV-VIS method and the GTAAS method 0.12 µg/m3 and 0.54 µg/m3 respectively.