Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Organic Matter Associated to Particulate Matter Emitted from Atmospheric Fluidized Bed Coal Combustion

The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and the organic matter (OM) content associated with particulate matter (PM) emissions from atmospheric fluidized bed coal combustion have been studied. The two main aims of the work have been (a) to study OM and PAH emissions as a function of the coal fluidized bed combustion (FBC) variables in solid phase and (b) to check if there is any correlation between OM and PAH contained in the PM. The combustion was carried out in a laboratory scale ( D i = 7 cm and H = 76 cm) plant at different combustion conditions: temperature (650−950 °C), percentage of oxygen excess (5−40%), and total air flow (700−1100 L/h). PAH associated on the particulate matter have been analyzed by fluorescence spectroscopy in the synchronous mode (FS) after PM extraction by sonication with dimethylformamide (DMF). It can be concluded that there is not a direct relationship between the OM content and the PAH supported in the PM emitted. In addition, neither PM or OM show dependence between themselves.