PIXE as a tool for elemental and size analysis of power station particulate emissions

Abstract Particulate matter released into the stack effluents of a large oil-fired and a coal-fired power station was characterized. The main emission elements, together with their concentrations and size distributions, were determined by means of the PIXE analytical technique. The morphological and mineralogical characteristics of the single particles were established using SEM-EDAX and XRD techniques.