The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of unburned carbon particles present in fly ashes producedby coal combustion on mercury retention. To achieve this objective, the work was divided into two parts.The aim of the first part of the study was to estimate the amount of mercury captured by the fly ashes duringcombustion in power stations and the relationship of this retention to the unburned carbon content. The secondpart was a laboratory-scale study aimed at evaluating the retention of mercury concentrations greater thanthose produced in power stations by fly ashes of different characteristics and by unburned carbon particles.From the results obtained it can be inferred that the unburned carbon content is not the only variable thatcontrols mercury capture in fly ashes. The textural characteristics of these unburned particles and of othercomponents of fly ashes also influence retention.