Organic Material Emissions from Holding Ponds at Coal-Fired Power Generation Facilities. Final Report

摘要

A literature survey of organic chemical emissions from holding or ash ponds which are used by most coal-fired utilities to collect process waste materials has been conducted. Only a small quantity of compound-specific information was available concerning surface runoff and none was available for groundwater seepage or atmospheric emissions. Approximately 140 Kg/day of organic material is predicted to be present in surface runoff of a hypothetical 1000 MW facility of which only 3.5 Kg/day, or 2.6% of the total, is accounted for by specific compounds. Of the compounds identified, only phenol is near a level (97 mu g/l) of potential environmental significance. Due to the lack of information describing holding pond emissions, a survey of known holding pond influents was undertaken to assess which processes were most likely to be associated with the organic chemical content of the pond. Of the process wastes directed into the pond, cooling tower blowdown, water treatment wastes and boiler blowdown are identified as the major contributors of organic material. Organic chemical additives, which are used to control bacterial buildup, scale formation, pitting, corrosion, pH stability, and solid dispersion, account for approximately 96% of the organic pond influents. The majority of these materials do not represent an environmental hazard; however, they may undergo chemical reactions in the pond which increase their environmental significance. (ERA citation 05:028332)