Application of PIXE, RBS and high energy proton microbeams to the elemental analysis of coal and coal waste. [Proton and x-ray induced x-ray emission and Rutherford backscattering]
Proton and x-ray induced x-ray emission have proved to be sensitive and convenient methods to measure major trace element concentrations in bulk quantities of coal and coal waste materials. These techniques are complementary in their sensitivities as a function of atomic number, and both require little sample preparation. The PIXE measurements were made with the proton beam in air in a microprobe configuration. Collimated proton beam scans were made on several thin sections of fly ash/sludge block materials and good trace sensitivities were observed for small specific volumes; SEM scans showed a high degree of material homogeneity which precluded significant elemental variations at the approx. 100 ..mu..m spatial resolution used. Rutherford backscattering was used to directly observe major and minor elemental concentrations in coal waste materials and in several representative ranks of coals. RBS is useful for only trace concentrations of heavy elements, but it does provide a method independent of fluoresced x rays for detection of possible middle Z interferences. Arsenic, present in trace amounts in coal, is an element of concern and is enriched in fly ash. The form of As in fly ash is unknown. However, because of its volatility most of the As probably becomes attached to the surfaces of the fly ash particles during and subsequent to combustion processes. This view is supported by the fact that As is rapidly mobilized in aqueous solutions whose pH > 9.
- Research Organization:
- Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA); State Univ. of New York, Stony Brook (USA). Marine Sciences Research Center
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76CH00016
- OSTI ID:
- 6693955
- Report Number(s):
- BNL-28668; CONF-801227-3; TRN: 81-003067
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Atomic and nuclear methods in fossil energy research meeting, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, 1 Dec 1980
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
ASHES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COAL
ARSENIC
BACKSCATTERING
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLY ASH
GERMANIUM
ION SCATTERING ANALYSIS
LEACHING
PH VALUE
PIXE ANALYSIS
SLUDGES
TITANIUM
TRACE AMOUNTS
X-RAY EMISSION ANALYSIS
AEROSOL WASTES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
DATA
DISSOLUTION
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
INFORMATION
MATERIALS
METALS
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
NUMERICAL DATA
RESIDUES
SCATTERING
SEMIMETALS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WASTES
400103* - Radiometric & Radiochemical Procedures- (-1987)
010600 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Properties & Composition