Distribution and fate of environmentally sensitive elements (arsenic, mercury, stibium and selenium) in coal-fired power plants at Huainan, Anhui, China

► We examine contents of As, Hg, Sb and Se in feed coals and its combustion by-products in two coal-fired power plants. ► We establish the overall material balances of these elements. ► We calculate removal efficiencies of As, Hg, Sb and Se by ESP units and FGD process. ► The total emissions of As, Hg and Se were calculated at 0.46 t, 0.04 t and 2.27 t, respectively.