Particulate matter in fly ash from ESP inlet and outlet of a coal fired power plant in India was measured for five units of 120 MW and 210 MW of the power plant. Samples of the pulverised coal and bottom and fly ashes were also collected. The size distribution and chemical composition of particulate matter were determined using a laser particle analyser, an ion chromatograph (IC) and an inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES). The observed particle mass concentration at the ESP inlet was 544321483 mg Nm(-3) whereas the outlet concentration was found as 12-315 mg Nm(-3) thereby giving total removal efficiency of 95.7-99.8%. A fine particle mode appeared at the particle size of 0.4-0.9 mu m and coarse particle mode appeared at the particle size greater than 1 mu m. Magnesium and iron remained in bottom ash and showed high concentrations 99 and 2154 mu g g(-1) (ppmw) respectively, while other elements such as lead, chromium and zinc were observed in higher concentration in ESP inlet flue gas. Relative enrichment of trace elements (except Fe) in fly ash was observed higher than that in bottom ash. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.