Assessment of Arsenic and Mercury in Thar Coal Field, Pakistan

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The main focus of this work was to evaluate the quality parameters of coal, adjoining solid matrices (clay, sand and surface soil) and aquifer water collected from different depths of block III and V of Thar coalfield, Sindh, Pakistan. Quality parameters such as elemental composition, proximate and ultimate parameters of coal samples were pointed out the physicochemical characteristics. Moisture contents in coal samples of Thar coalfield indicated that the direct use of coal is not suitable for power generation. The mineral composition has been determined by SEM and X-ray diffraction. The occurrence of As and Hg in coal samples of Thar coalfield and its behavior during the combustion were studied in detail. Extracted As and Hg contents in coal and LMA samples were measured by MHS-15 hydride/Cold vapor generation atomic absorption spectrometry, respectively. Results of LMA indicated that during combustion of coal >75% and >90% of As and Hg, respectively can be released into the atmosphere. The contents of As and Hg in coal samples of block-III of Thar coalfield was found to be higher as compared to block-V, might be due to difference in geochemical mineral composition.