The Influence of a Coal-Fired Power Plant in Turkey on the Chemical Composition of Rain Water in a Certain Region

Abstract

In this study, the chemical composition of the rainwater in Yatağan, which is a region surrounding a coal power plant was investigated from February to April 2002. Rainwater samples were obtained from Yatağan, located northwest of Muğla City in Turkey. pH values and concentrations of major ions (Ca(2+), Na(+), K(+), SO(2-)(4), NO(-)(3), NH(+)(4)) in the rainwater samples were analyzed. The pH varied from 5.1 to 7.9 with an average of 6.7 which was in alkaline range considering 5.6 as the neutral pH of cloud water in equilibrium with atmospheric CO(2). In the total of 30 rain events, only three events were observed with water in the acidic range (<5.6), which occurred after continuous rains. The equivalent concentration of components followed the order: Ca(2+) > SO(2-)(4) > Na(+) > NH(+)(4) > NO(-)(3) > K(+) > H(+). The anion and cation concentrations in the rainwater samples showed a high sulphate concentration (131 microEq/l), as well as high sodium (40 microEq/l) and calcium (298 microEq/l) concentrations. These values indicate that one probable source of the high sodium concentration is fly ash, after the coal burning process and the power plant can be effective on level SO(2-)(4) concentrations in rainwater. In addition, the dust-rich local and surrounding limestone environment might have caused the high concentration of Ca(2+) in rainwater of the Yatağan Basin. Due to a large contribution of these cations to the sulphate neutralization action, the rainwater of this region displays only a moderate acidity, which does not cause significant environmental impact.

Health Effects and Environmental issues in residents around Coal Fired Thermal Power Plant, Padubidri: A cross sectional study.

“…Similar results of poor yielding of crops and effect on soil and water were seen in some studies; it was due to fly ash which has high contents of heavy metals [12][13][14][15][16][17][18].…”

AnIn SituMethod for Sizing Insoluble Residues in Precipitation and Other Aqueous Samples

“…Critical research questions that have been explored for decades now involve how the particles that are taken up into cloud water, fog, or precipitation impact the composition (Gioda et al, 2013; Post et al, 1991; Straub et al, 2007; Watanabe et al, 2010), oxidative capacity (Deguillaume et al, 2004), pH (Budhavant et al, 2014; Gioda et al, 2013), and other cloud water properties (Lee et al, 2011). Many prior studies have primarily focused on the soluble components present in rainwater, particularly inorganic ions, to assess the sources (Gioda et al, 2013; Twohy et al, 2009; Demirak, 2007) and secondary species (i.e. nitrates and sulfates) present (Demirak, 2007).…”

“…Many prior studies have primarily focused on the soluble components present in rainwater, particularly inorganic ions, to assess the sources (Gioda et al, 2013; Twohy et al, 2009; Demirak, 2007) and secondary species (i.e. nitrates and sulfates) present (Demirak, 2007). Some studies have found that metals from dissolving dust or anthropogenic particles can drive important oxidation reactions, such as S(IV) to S(VI) in sulfate (Alexander et al, 2009; Rao and Collett, 1998).…”

Brick kiln emissions and its environmental impact: A Review

“…SO 2 can be oxidized in the atmosphere to form sulphate aerosols that contribute to acid deposition (Holleman, 2001). Thus elevated level of sulphate ions (SO 4 2− ) concentrations in rain water are due to strong SO 2 emissions from coal fired thermal power plants (Demirak, 2007). While as it has been predicted that SO 2 concentrations from point source emissions are lower than those from area source emissions during the non heating season (Cheng et al, 2006), it has also been discussed that temperature has a significant effect on SO 2 concentrations, and humidity and wind speed have insignificant effect (Salam et al, 2008).…”