Emission of bromine from hard coal combustion to the atmosphere

Studies performed in recent years have proven harmful effects of bromine on the widely understood geosphere. The most important of them is the destruction of the ozone layer. The aim of the study was to estimate the emission of bromine into the atmosphere resulting from combustion of hard coal for energy purposes. The work was based on the assumption that the amount of bromine emitted to the atmosphere is the result of a subtraction between its total content in coal and its content remaining in coal ash. Bromine in hard coals and ashes obtained from their combustion was determined by WDXRF technique with the use of especially developed for this purpose two independent methods. The calibration of the method for the determination of bromine directly in coal was based on a series of synthetic standards. The calibration of the method of determination of bromine in coal ash obtained from the combustion of coal in a muffle furnace at the temperature 815°C ± 5°C was based on a series of 10 reference materials, which were certified coal ash standards. Sample preparation procedures for X-ray analysis and optimal instrument measurement conditions are presented in the paper.