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ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF COAL-AND OIL-FIRING IN A CONTROLLED INDUSTRIAL BOILER. VOLUME I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Citation:
Leavitt, C., K. Arledge, C. Shih, R. Orsini, AND W. Hammersma. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF COAL-AND OIL-FIRING IN A CONTROLLED INDUSTRIAL BOILER. VOLUME I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/7-78/164A.
Description:
The report gives results of a comparative multimedia assessment of coal versus oil firing in a controlled industrial boiler. Relative environmental, energy, economic, and societal impacts were identified. Comprehensive sampling and analyses of gaseous, liquid, and solid emissions from the boiler and its control equipment were conducted to identify criteria pollutants and other species. Major conclusions include: (1) While the quantity of particulates from oil firing is considerably less than from coal firing, the particles are generally smaller and more difficult to remove, and the concentration of particulates in the treated flue gas from oil firing exceeded that from coal firing. (2) NOx and CO emissions during coal firing were about triple those during oil firing. (3) Sulfate emissions from the boiler during coal firing were about triple those during oil firing; however, at the outlet of the control equipment, sulfate concentrations were essentially identical. (4) Most trace element emissions (except vanadium, cadmium, lead, cobalt, nickel, and copper) were higher during coal firing. (5) Oil firing produces cadmium burdens in vegetation approaching levels which are injurious to man; coal firing may produce molybdenum levels which are injurious to cattle. (6) The assessment generally supports the national energy plan for increased use of coal by projecting that the environmental insult from controlled coal firing is not significantly different from that from oil firing.