Incidencia de las emisiones de una gran central térmica en la composición del material particulado atmosférico

Abstract

The present work focuses on the characterization of atmospheric total suspended particles (TSP) around a large coal-fired power station in NE Spain. The study was performed through sampling TSP by means o f high volume captors and cascade impactor in four stations located at different distances from the power station. In order to determine the plume evolution, the sampling was assisted by systematic remote sensing measurements (with a mobile unit equipped with a COSPEC system and conventional S 0 2 analyzers). The main results obtained are: a) a major anthropogenic source was inferred for sulphates and nitrates in TSP, b) a clear seasonal trend to decrease sulphates in TSP towards the winter season was shown, c) a grain- size fractionation for sulphates and nitrates was deduced, and d) sulphates and nitrates in TSP are neutralized mainly by NH4+ and by natural atmospheric Ca2+, K+, Mg2+ and Na+ - bearing minerals