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Coal and Fuel Laboratory Capabilities The Coal and Fuel Laboratory follows standard methods of analysis developed, approved and published by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) for the majority of its analytical work. Following is a list of the more common ASTM standard methods used in the Lab. |
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*Ion chromatography is substituted for ion selective electrode procedures. The modified methods are being evaluated by ASTM for publication as standard methods. ** ICP-MS is substituted for atomic absorption detection method. *** ASTM is currently working on a standard method for loss on ignition determination. |
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Fuel/General Analysis |
ASTM Standard |
Method/Procedure |
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Moisture (M) |
D3173 |
Moisture oven |
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Moisture |
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Karl Fischer titration |
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Ash (A) |
D3174 |
Box furnace oxidation in air |
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Volatile matter (VM) |
D3175 |
Fieldner Furnace |
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Proximate analysis (M, A, VM and Fixed Carbon ) |
D5142 |
Macro thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) |
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Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), and Nitrogen (N) |
D5373 |
IR and thermoconductivity cell detection |
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Sulfur (S) |
D4239 |
High temperature combustion/IR cell detection |
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Chlorine (Cl) |
D4208* |
Bomb decomposition/Ion chromatography (IC) |
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Fluorine (F) |
D3761* |
Bomb decomposition/IC |
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Major/minor elements (SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, CaO, MgO, Na2O, K2O, TiO2, P2O5, SO3) |
D6349 |
Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) |
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Major/minor elements (SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, CaO, MgO, Na2O, K2O, TiO2, P2O5, SO3) |
D4326 |
X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) |
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Trace elements (Sb, As, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Pb, Mo, Ni, Mn, Zn, V ) |
D6357 |
Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) |
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Mercury analysis |
D6722 |
High temperature combustion-atomic absorption spectrometry |
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Arsenic and selenium |
D4606** |
Bomb decomposition/ICP-MS |
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Loss on ignition (LOI) |
*** |
Macro thermogravimetric analysis |
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Sulfur forms (sulfate, pyritic and organic) |
D2492 |
Classical wet methods |
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Carbon forms (inorganic, organic, and total) |
D6313 |
Combustion and IR cell detection |
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Heating value |
D5865 |
Bomb calorimeter |
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Free swelling Index |
D720 |
Thermal |
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Hardgrove Grindability Index |
D409 |
Grinding/sieving |
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Gieseler plastometry |
D2639 |
Hight temperature viscosity |
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Ash fusion temperatures |
D1857 |
Heating in reducing or oxidizing atomspheres |
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Flash point |
D56 or D1310 |
Open or closed cup |