China's energy dependents on coal due to the abundance and low cost of coal. Coal provides a secure and stable energy source in China. Over-dependence on coal results in the emission of Hazardous Trace Elements (HTEs) including selenium (Se), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), etc., from Coal-Fired Power Plants (CFPPs), which are the major toxic air pollutants causing widespread concern. For this reason, it is essential to provide a succinct analysis of the main HTEs emission control techniques while concurrently identifying the research prospects framework and specifying future research directions. The study herein reviews various techniques applied in China for the selected HTEs emission control, including the technical, institutional, policy, and regulatory aspects. The specific areas covered in this study include health effects, future coal production and consumption, the current situation of HTEs in Chinese coal, the chemistry of selected HTEs, control techniques, policies, and action plans safeguarding the emission control. The review emphasizes the fact that China must establish and promote efficient and clean ways to utilize coal in order to realize sustainable development. The principal conclusion is that cleaning coal technologies and fuel substitution should be great potential HTEs control technologies in China. Future research should focus on the simultaneous removal of HTEs, PM, SOx, and NOx in the complex flue gas.
Keywords: Coal; Coal-fired power plants; Heavy trace elements; Policies.
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