Quality control of coal with elemental analyzers

Coal is an important fossil fuel. Compared to the very large amount of mined coal, the required sample volume for the characterization of coal, varying from a few mg up to 1 gram, seems unbelievably small. Correct sampling and sample preparation is a must for any subsequent measurement. The correct characterization of coal is important for its quality assessment and further use. Depending on the product quality, coal is suitable for coking, steel production or electrical power generation. In this article, Verder Scientific describes the chemical background of proximate and ultimate coal analysis, and their correct determination with ELTRA’s combustion and thermogravimetric analyzers.