Trace Elements in Popular Coals Burnt in Low Power Boilers

The aim of the research was to demonstrate differences in the content of trace elements (U, Th, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Cd, Mo, Hg, Pb, W, Ba) in coal mined in Poland and coal imported from Russia, which are widely available on the market. Ecophile, cube and nut were selected for the research. Among them 3 come from Russia and 3 from Poland. The samples were mineralized and the heavy metal content was determined with the use of mass spectrometry with excitation in induced plasma. The research allowed us to conclude that the same carbon grades showed completely different metal contents and depended on the place of origin. The greatest amount of trace elements was found to be found in ecophysics from Poland (durin). Relatively large contamination with trace elements was also found in Polish peach (window) and in Russian walnut. A relatively high content of uranium was found in three samples, including the ecophyses. When burning coal, even of high quality, we expose the environment to the burden of trace elements, including radioactive elements present in their composition. Heavy metals from coal combustion constantly accumulate in the environment and so far no standards have been established for their content in this fuel.