Study of coal structure using secondary ion mass spectrometry
Secondary-ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) is examined as a tool for studying the chemical structure of coal. SIMS has potential for analysis of coal because of the following characteristics: sensitivity to chemical structure; high sensitivity to all masses; application to solids; excellent depth resolution; and reasonable spatial resolution. SIMS spectra of solid coals show differences with respect to coal rank, the spectra of high rank coal being similar to that of graphite, and the spectra of low rank coal being similar to that of wood. Some functional group analysis is also possible using SIMS. Low rank coals show a larger peak at 15 amu indicating more methyl groups than found in the higher rank coals. Fragments with two and three carbon atoms have also been examined; much larger fragments are undoubtedly present but were not evaluated in this study. Examination of these groups, which are expected to contain valuable information on coal structure, is planned for future work. It has been observed that mineral atoms present in the coal have large secondary ion yields which complicate the interpretation of the spectra. Studies on mineral-free coals and model compounds are therefore recommended to facilitate determination of organic coal structure. In addition, mass spectrometry with much greater mass resolution will aid in distinguishing between various ion species.
- Research Organization:
- Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 6735625
- Report Number(s):
- PNL-3650
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
COAL
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
STRUCTURAL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
GRAPHITE
WOOD
ASHES
BITUMINOUS COAL
BROWN COAL
CARBON
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HYDROGEN
LIGNITE
MINERALS
NITROGEN
OXYGEN
RESOLUTION
SENSITIVITY
SOLIDS
SUBBITUMINOUS COAL
SULFUR
VOLATILE MATTER
WATER
BLACK COAL
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
DATA
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
MATERIALS
MATTER
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RESIDUES
SPECTROSCOPY
010600* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Properties & Composition
360603 - Materials- Properties