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]

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:6693955

Kraner, H W; Hanson, A L; Jones, K W; Oakley, S A; Duedall, I W; Woodhead, P M.J.

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
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010600 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Properties & Composition
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400103* -- Radiometric & Radiochemical Procedures-- (-1987)
AEROSOL WASTES
ARSENIC
ASHES
BACKSCATTERING
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COAL
DATA
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLY ASH
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GERMANIUM
INFORMATION
ION SCATTERING ANALYSIS
LEACHING
MATERIALS
METALS
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
NUMERICAL DATA
PH VALUE
PIXE ANALYSIS
RESIDUES
SCATTERING
SEMIMETALS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SLUDGES
TITANIUM
TRACE AMOUNTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WASTES
X-RAY EMISSION ANALYSIS