Mercury emissions of a coal-fired power plant in Germany

Abstract

Abstract. Hg ∕ SO2, Hg ∕ CO, NOx ∕ SO2 (NOx being the sum of NO and NO2) emission ratios (ERs) in the plume of the coal-fired power plant (CFPP), Lippendorf, near Leipzig, Germany, were determined within the European Tropospheric Mercury Experiment (ETMEP) aircraft campaign in August 2013. The gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM) fraction of mercury emissions was also assessed. Measured Hg ∕ SO2 and Hg ∕ CO ERs were within the measurement uncertainties consistent with the ratios calculated from annual emissions in 2013 reported by the CFPP operator, while the NOx ∕ SO2 ER was somewhat lower. The GOM fraction of total mercury emissions, estimated using three independent methods, was below ∼ 25 %. This result is consistent with other findings and suggests that GOM fractions of ∼ 40 % of CFPP mercury emissions in current emission inventories are overestimated.