Application of scanning electron microscopy and automated image analysis for characterization of mineral matter in coal

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 UTC 1985

OSTI ID:5401286

Straszheim, W E; Markuszewski, R

Automated Image Analysis (AIA) in conjunction with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX) constitutes a very powerful tool for the in-situ characterization of mineral matter in coal. This AIA-SEM technique provides detailed information on size, shape, composition, and association of mineral phases with the coal matrix. In addition, the in-situ capability of the SEM and EDX techniques is augmented by computer control to provide quantitative information on the distribution of the mineral species present in coal. The AIA-SEM technique has been aplied to many samples of bituminous and sub-bituminous coals to characterize their mineral content. Some of the fundamental aspects of AIA as an analytical technique for coal are described. The description includes construction of suitable chemistry files for mineral phase definitions, the numbers of particles needed to develop reliable results and adequate reproducibility between samples, difficulties arising from a wide spead in the minimum and maximum particle sizes, comparison of AIA results with other characterization methods as x-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyses, the problems encountered in quantitation, such as the artificial enrichment of pyrite content due to instrumental factors. 8 refs., 6 tabs.

• Research Organization: Ames Lab., IA (USA); Iowa State Univ. of Science and Technology, Ames (USA). Dept. of Engineering Science and Mechanics
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-82
• OSTI ID: 5401286
• Report Number(s): IS-M-544; CONF-850417-26; ON: DE85015513
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010600* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Properties & Composition
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM SILICATES
BITUMINOUS COAL
BLACK COAL
CALCITE
CALCIUM CARBONATES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CARBONATE MINERALS
CARBONATES
CHALCOGENIDES
CLASSIFICATION
CLAYS
CLEANING
COAL
COHERENT SCATTERING
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DATA
DIFFRACTION
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FOSSIL FUELS
FOURIER TRANSFORMATION
FUELS
ILLITE
INFORMATION
INFRARED SPECTRA
INTEGRAL TRANSFORMATIONS
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON SULFIDES
KAOLINITE
MATERIALS
MICROSCOPY
MINERALOGY
MINERALS
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLE SIZE
PYRITE
QUARTZ
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SCATTERING
SILICATE MINERALS
SILICATES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SIZE
SPECTRA
SUBBITUMINOUS COAL
SULFIDE MINERALS
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TRANSFORMATIONS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
X-RAY DIFFRACTION