Chemical analysis of coal by energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence utilizing artificial standards

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:6753929

Wheeler, B D

Accurate determinations of the elemental composition of coal by classical methods can be quite difficult and are normally very time consuming. X-ray fluorescence utilizing the powder method, however, has the ability of providing accurate and rapid analyses. Unfortunately, well characterized standards, although available, are not plentiful. In addition, the durability of stability of ground and pelletized coal samples is poor resulting in deterioration with time. As a result, artificial coal standards were prepared from certified geological materials by fusing in lithium tetraborate in percentages approximating expected ash contents and compositions in coal. Since the lithium tetraborate comprises about the same percentage of the standard as does the carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in coal, the ground and pelletized coal sample can be assayed against the fused calibration curves by compensating for the differences in the mass absorption coefficients of the two matrices. 5 figures, 4 tables.

• Research Organization: EG and G ORTEC, Oak Ridge, TN (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6753929
• Report Number(s): CONF-820861-2; ON: DE82906045
• 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)
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ASHES
BORATES
BORON COMPOUNDS
CALIBRATION STANDARDS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COAL
DATA ANALYSIS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RESIDUES
STANDARDS
X-RAY EMISSION ANALYSIS
X-RAY FLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS