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2958063 
Journal Article 
PAHs and potentially toxic elements in the fly ash and bed ash of biomass fired power plants 
Masto, RE; Sarkar, E; George, J; Jyoti, K; Dutta, P; Ram, L 
2015 
Yes 
Fuel Processing Technology
ISSN: 0378-3820 
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV 
AMSTERDAM 
132 
139-152 
WOS:000350096800018 
PAHs and heavy metal chemical fractions were determined in biomass ashes from four power plants that fired coconut, chicken, and wood wastes. All these ashes were alkaline (pH 8.7-12.7). High unburned carbon in the fly ashes (8.3 to 16.9%) indicates incomplete combustion. The major chemical phases were SiO2 - CaO - K2O - MgO followed by Fe2O3 > Al2O3 > SO3 > MnO, with an exception of higher P2O5 (5 - 8.8%) in chicken litter ash. SEM showed that the FAs have more angular particles, whereas BAs have fused and glassy particles. The contents of B (15- 205 mg/kg), Cu (236 - 481 mg/kg), Cd (13- 23.2 mg/kg), Ni (50 - 186 mg/kg), and Zn (10 - 400 mg/kg) were relatively higher in the ashes. Most of these elements (except B) were associated with metal oxide and silicates. B is the most mobile element and >75% of B is present in the available forms. The total PAH content was comparatively lower (0.19- 12.3 mg/kg), except for wood ash (PAH 193 mg/kg). These ashes have significant amount of plant nutrients and most of the potentially toxic elements are in non-available forms which supports their suitability for soil amendment. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 
Biomass ash; Heavy metals; PAHs; Sequential extraction