TRACE ELEMENTS IN LIGNITE OF THE KOSOVA BASIN AND ENVIRONMENTAL SIGNIFICANCE

Coals contain diverse amounts of trace elements their overall compositions. Certain trace elements such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium and mercury, if present in high amounts, could preclude the coal from being used in environmentally sensitive situations. Others have detrimental effects on the metallurgical industry: these include boron-titanium-vanadium and zinc. Coal is an important component in enabling energy demands in Kosovo. Kosovo coal is lignite type. Production of electricity in Kosovo, until now, is mainly realized in power plant with lignite (Kosova A and B), 98% and the small part (approximately 2%), in hydroelectric power plant.As a result of the high tonnages of coal used in industry, significant amounts of trace elements may be concentrated in residues after combustion. This paper focuses on the selected trace elements (Sb, As, Pb, Ba, Be, B, Cd, Co, Cu, Hg, Cr, Mo, Ni, V, Sn and Zn) released by the combustion of coal. There are four trace elements which occur in concentrations greater than 100 mg/kg d.m in lignite. These are barium (550.42 mg/kg d.m), boron (263.54 mg/kg d.m), chromium (142.21 mg/kg d.m) and nickel (219.88 mg/kg d.m). The environmental impact of trace elements is related, in the first instance, to their modes of occurrence in the coal. The presence of trace elements in fly ash can lead to serious environmental impacts and consequently have an impact on the inhabitants of the environment if the disposal of the fly ash is not performed correctly.