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Coal Quality Characterization: Analytical Methods
Short Course

By Curtis A. Palmer1, Brenda Pierce2, Carol Skeen3, Kristin Dennen1, and Frank Dulong1

1U.S. Geological Survey, 956 National Center, Reston, VA 20192 - cpalmer@usgs.gov, kdennen@usgs.gov, fdulong@usgs.gov
2U.S. Geological Survey, 915A National Center, Reston, VA 20192 - bpierce@usgs.gov
3docskeen@earthlink.net

Several analytical methods are used by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to analyze coal and coal combustion products (fly ash, bottom ash, and so on). The data from these analyses, together with data obtained using ASTM methods described by Addington and Palmer (this volume), can be used to determine coal quality.

The course material contained in this paper is a presentation (PowerPoint for Windows users, PDF file for Macintosh users, full-text version to satisfy the provisions of Section 508) designed to familarize the reader with analytical techniques used by the USGS to characterize the quality of coal samples. The course notes discuss various routine and nonroutine methods used and the applications and relative merits of each one. Some of this material has been previously discussed by various authors (Golightly and Simon, 1989; Palmer 1997; Bullock and others, 2002), but much of the data presented herein is practical information never before compiled.

The PowerPoint slides are not comprehensive, but they are designed to give an overview of USGS analytical procedures. More detailed information is available (Palmer, 1997; Bullock and others, 2002). Also following is an outline of the course and the approximate time devoted to each topic.

Windows users: PowerPoint presentation [4.9MB] | Macintosh users: PDF file [3.2MB] | Section 508 users: Full-text version[28KB]


2:15 Introduction and housekeeping (Palmer) 10 minutes
2:25 Sample collection and preservation (Pierce) 15 minutes
2:40 Methods overview and relative merits (Palmer) 20 minutes
3:00 ICP-AES, ICP-MS, CVAA, HGAA (Skeen) 30 minutes
3:30 Break 15 minutes
3:45 XRF (Dennen) 15 minutes
4:00 XRD and LTA (Dulong) 15 minutes
4:15 INAA (Palmer) 15 minutes
4:30 Tour of analytical facilities (Staff) 45 minutes


The purpose of this course is to teach the basics of USGS analytical coal procedures and methods including sample collection. The student should understand the advantages and limitations of each technique and be able evaluate the validity data determined by each technique. By the end of the course, the student should also understand the basic principles of each technique and be able to determine for which elements and under what conditions each technique should be applied.

REFERENCES CITED

Bullock, J.H. Jr., Cathcart, J.D., and Betterton, W.J., 2002, Analytical methods utilized by the United States Geological Survey for the analysis of coal and coal combustion products: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 02-389, 14 p.

Golightly, D.W., and Simon, F.O., 1989, Methods for sampling and inorganic analysis of coal: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1823, 72 p.

Palmer, C.A., 1997, The chemical analysis of Argonne Premium Coal samples: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 2144, 106 p.

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