Coal Characterization

Lecture # 01(M)
 Analyses of Coal
1. Proximate Analysis: (i.e. determination of
moisture, ash, volatile matter and fixed
carbon).
2. Ultimate Analysis: (i.e. determination of
carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur,
oxygen and chlorine).
3. Miscellaneous Analysis: (i.e. determination
of calorific value, ash softening
temperature, forms of sulfur and special
tests like free swelling index, plastic
properties, grindability and sieve analysis).
 Proximate Analysis
• Proximate analysis is the simplest form of the analysis of
coal. It consists of the determination of Moisture, Ash,
Volatile Matter and Fixed carbon, to this are often
added the determination of sulfur content and the
calorific value.

• By definition the proximate analysis of the coal

constitutes the following four components:
a. Moisture
b. Volatile matter, consisting of gases driven off during
pyrolysis
c. Ash, inorganic residue left behind after combustion of
coal
d. Fixed carbon or the non-volatile fraction of the carbon
content of coal
Types of Moisture in Coal
• Moisture in coal may be fundamentally subdivided into
four categories;
1. Inherent Moisture: a moisture present in capillaries of
coal (difficult to remove).
2. Surface Moisture: a moisture present at surface of coal
(remove at 40°C).
3. Hydration Moisture: a moisture which is a part of
crystalline structure of inorganic material of the mineral
matter of coal (difficult to remove).
4. Decomposition Moisture: a moisture which is produced
from the organic portion of coal through thermal
decomposition of coal. (not commonly dealt).
Types of Moisture in Coal
• Less fundamentally we deal with;

1. Total Moisture/As Received Moisture: Total amount

of surface and inherent moisture in coal at the time
of analysis.
2. Air Dry Loss Moisture: is that which lost during air
drying (at 40°C).
3. Air Dried Moisture: Moisture present in analysis
sample after air drying.
Total Moisture
 Scope
• This test method covers the determination of
moisture in the analysis sample of coal or coke.
• It is used for calculating other analytical results to a
dry basis.
 Significance and Use
• Moisture as determined by this test method is used
for calculating other analytical results to a moisture
free basis using procedures in Practice D 3180.
• Moisture percent determined by this test method
may be used in conjunction with the air-dry
moisture loss determined in Method D 2013 and Test
Method D 3302 to determine total moisture in coal.
• Total moisture is used for calculating other
analytical results to “as received” basis using
Practice D 3180. Moisture, ash, volatile matter, and
fixed carbon percent constitute the proximate
analysis of coal and coke.
 Determination of Total Moisture
(ASTM-D3173)

• Summary of Test Method

• Moisture is determined by establishing the loss in
weight of the sample when heated under rigidly
controlled conditions of temperature, time and
atmosphere, sample weight, and equipment
specifications (due to the empirical nature of the
test).
 Analysis Sample
• The analysis sample is that sample which has been
pulverized to pass 250-μm (No. 60) sieve as
prepared in accordance with Practice D 346 or
Method D 2013.
 Apparatus
1. Drying Oven (temperature between the
limits of 104 and 110°C).In the oven, the.
2. Weigh Balance
3. Spatula
4. Petri Dishes
Drying Oven
 Reagents
1) Dry Air—Air used to purge the drying
oven should be dried to a moisture
content of 1.9 mg/L or less.
2) Desiccants—Materials suitable for use
in the desiccator may be chosen from
the following:
• Anhydrous Calcium Sulfate.
• Silica Gel.
• Magnesium Perchlorate.
 Procedure
 Tarring:
Heat the empty petri dish under the conditions at which the
sample is to be dried, place the stopper or cover on the petri dish,
cool over a desiccant for 15 to 30 min, and weigh.
 Taking the Sample for Analysis:
1) Dip out with a spoon or spatula from the sample bottle
approximately 1 g of the sample. Put this quickly into the petri
dish, close, and weigh at once.
2) An alternative procedure for weighing the sample (more
subject to error) is as follows:
After transferring an amount of the sample slightly in excess of 1
g, bring to exactly 1 g in weight (60.5 mg) by quickly removing the
excess weight of the sample with a spatula. The utmost dispatch
must be used to minimize the exposure of the sample until the
weight is determined.
 Procedure
Putting the Sample into Oven:
After removing the covers, quickly place the petri dish
in preheated oven (at 104 to 110°C) through which
passes a current of dry air. (The current of dry air is not
necessary for coke).Close the oven at once and heat
for 1 h.

Putting the Sample out from Oven:

Open the oven, cover the petri dish quickly, cool in a
desiccator over desiccant and weigh as soon as the
petri dish have reached room temperature.
 Calculations
• Calculate the percent moisture in the analysis sample as
follows:
Total Moisture (%) = [(A-B)/A]100
A = grams of sample used and
B = grams of sample after heating.

Total Moisture (%) = [B.H-A.H/A]100

B.H = Wt. of petri dish + grams of sample used before heating
A.H = Wt. of petri dish + grams of sample used after heating

Reference: ASTM-D-3173-08