Preliminary engineering analyses of quench station designs in large-scale coal gasification plants were performed with a primary emphasis on environmental pollutant distribution (will be referred to as effluents for the purpose of this document). The need and rationale for process and environmental analysis of proposed quench stations in conceptual coal gasification plants is described. Two representative conceptual commercial-/demonstration-scale quench station designs are selected for detailed analysis (Hygas 500 psig, bituminous and CO/sub 2/-Acceptor, lignite). The methodology and computer tools used to aid in the analysis are described. These tools and methods are evaluated and/or validated. The main conclusions and observations resulting from this analysis are outlined: (1) quench stations play a significant role in the distribution of effluents present in coal gasification raw product gas; (2) absorption of species such as H/sub 2/S and (1O/sub 2/ into quench water is limited by resistances to mass transfer; whereas, NH/sub 3/ vapor/liquid separation essentially approaches equilibrium. These effects should be considered in future quench station analysis; and; (3) distribution of effluents can be controlled (within process constraints) by optimization of quench station operating variables such as temperature, recycle rate, pH, and quench residence time, as well as some gasifier variables, without jeopardizing primary process goals.