AS 1038.

1—2001
AS 1038.1

Australian Standard™
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Coal and coke—Analysis and testing

Part 1: Higher rank coal—

Total moisture
 This Australian Standard was prepared by Committee MN-001, Coal and Coke. It
was approved on behalf of the Council of Standards Australia on 31 August 2001
and published on 6 November 2001.

The following interests are represented on Committee MN-001:

Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
Australian Coal Association
Australian Coal Preparation Society
Australian Institute of Energy
Bureau of Steel Manufacturers of Australia
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Coalfield Geology Council of N.S.W.

CSIRO Energy Technology
Department of Mines and Energy (Qld)
Electricity Supply Association of Australia
Institution of Engineers Australia
Minerals Council of Australia
University of New South Wales
University of Newcastle
University of Queensland

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This Standard was issued in draft form for comment as 00168.

 AS 1038.1—2001

Australian Standard™
This is a free 8 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

Coal and coke—Analysis and testing

Part 1: Higher rank coal—

Total moisture

Originated as part of AS CK2.3—1949.

Previous edition AS 1038.1—1992.
Third edition 2001.

COPYRIGHT
© Standards Australia International
All rights are reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without the written permission of the
publisher.
Published by Standards Australia International Ltd
GPO Box 5420, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia
ISBN 0 7337 4107 X
 AS 1038.1—2001 2

PREFACE
This Standard was prepared by the Standards Australia Subcommittee on Coal Evaluation,
under the supervision of the Committee MN-001, Coal and Coke, as a revision of
AS 1038.1—1992, Coal and coke— Analysis and testing, Part 1: Higher rank coal— Total
moisture.
The Standard contains a method for determination of free moisture and three methods for
the determination of the residual or total moisture content of higher rank coal, viz.
distillation method (Method A), drying in nitrogen (Method B), and drying in air
(Method C).
This revision confirms the methods for the moisture determination after test work was
undertaken to confirm representivity of 10 g subsamples at 4 mm top size for the
determination of residual moisture.
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The term ‘informative’ has been used in this Standard to define the application of the
appendix to which it applies. An ‘informative’ appendix is only for information and
guidance.
 3 AS 1038.1—2001

CONTENTS

Page
FOREWORD.............................................................................................................................. 4

SECTION 1 SCOPE AND GENERAL

1.1 SCOPE......................................................................................................................... 6
1.2 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS................................................................................... 6
1.3 DEFINITIONS............................................................................................................. 7
1.4 SAFETY ...................................................................................................................... 7
1.5 SAMPLES ................................................................................................................... 7
1.6 CALCULATION OF TOTAL MOISTURE................................................................. 8
1.7 PRECISION................................................................................................................. 9
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1.8 REPORTING OF RESULTS ....................................................................................... 9

1.9 TEST REPORT............................................................................................................ 9

SECTION 2 DETERMINATION OF FREE MOISTURE

2.1 SCOPE....................................................................................................................... 10
2.2 PRINCIPLE ............................................................................................................... 10
2.3 APPARATUS ............................................................................................................ 10
2.4 DRYING TIME ......................................................................................................... 10
2.5 PROCEDURE............................................................................................................ 10
2.6 CALCULATION OF RESULT.................................................................................. 11

SECTION 3 DETERMINATION OF RESIDUAL MOISTURE (AIR DRY SAMPLE) OR

TOTAL (SINGLE STAGE) MOISTURE
3.1 SCOPE....................................................................................................................... 12
3.2 DISTILLATION (METHOD A) ................................................................................ 12
3.3 DRYING IN NITROGEN (METHOD B) .................................................................. 14
3.4 DRYING IN AIR (METHOD C) ............................................................................... 17

APPENDICES
A COMPARISON OF INTERNATIONAL AND AUSTRALIAN METHODS FOR
DETERMINATION OF TOTAL MOISTURE .......................................................... 19
B OPTIONS FOR SAMPLE PREPARATION AND DETERMINATION
OF TOTAL MOISTURE ........................................................................................... 23
 AS 1038.1—2001 4

FOREWORD
A detailed historical review of the investigations into the form and occurrence of water in
coal, covering a period from the early 1800s to 1945, has been reported by Gauger*. In this
review, the development of direct methods for determining moisture in coal such as
distillation in solvents (xylene or toluene), and the indirect methods of drying in air and/or
nitrogen, were examined. These investigations have formed the basis of the methods now
standardized in various forms by ISO, BS, ASTM, and AS and other standards
organizations. Subsequent studies have tended to focus on a more rigorous scientific
understanding of the form of water in coal, or alternative/more rapid methods for its
determination (such as microwave drying or analysis by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
(NMR) spectroscopy).
In simple terms, water occurs in coal in three general forms:
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(a) Free moisture (sometimes referred to as surface moisture or adherent moisture)—has

the physical properties of ordinary water and occurs on the surface of coal or in the
large diameter pores.
(b) Residual moisture (sometimes referred to as bound or inherent moisture)—has a
lower vapour pressure than free moisture and occurs in the small diameter pores of
the coal.
(c) Water of constitution—which is primarily chemically-bound water as water of
crystallization or as water derived from hydroxyl groups occurring within the mineral
matter of the coal.
A method for the determination of water of crystallisation is given in AS 1038.22. This
Standard covers the determination of total moisture in higher rank coal and its parts, viz.,
free moisture and residual moisture.
Whilst the total moisture and residual moisture of a given coal are related to coal rank there
are many factors which determine the actual values including local mining conditions, the
presence of extraneous mineral matter such as clays, and the treatment of the coal post
mining. Therefore the moisture characteristics of a given coal (total, residual and free
moisture) are semi-empirical parameters and the values for a given coal may vary according
to the test method used for its determination.
The free moisture in coal is always determined indirectly by drying in air under normal
ambient conditions. Residual moisture may be determined directly by distillation using
toluene (boiling point 110.8°C) using the British Dean and Stark apparatus, or by drying in
air or nitrogen at 105–110°C.
In the distillation method, the important test variables that have been standardized include:
(i) Temperature.
(ii) Duration of heating.
(iii) Nature of the immiscible liquid and volume used.
(iv) Mass of sample.
(v) The design of the apparatus.†

* GAUGER, A.W. Condition of water in coals, Chemistry of Coal Utilisation, Vol 1 Chap. 17, John Wiley &
Sons, 1945, pp 600-626.

† CRAWFORD, A. Determination of the moisture content of the ‘analysis sample’, Fuel, v 36, 1957, pp 7-25.
 5 AS 1038.1—2001

In the drying methods, important test variables include:

(A) Temperature of heating.
(B) Duration of heating.
(C) Density of the coal layer.
(D) Rate of change of atmosphere.
(E) Effect of nitrogen or air.
(F) Effect of different materials for the containers.
(G) Exclusion of moisture from the air dry sample.
Strict adherence to the methods described in the respective standard methods is therefore
essential in obtaining reliable test data.
Other values of moisture commonly determined in the analysis of coal include moisture-
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holding capacity (AS 1038.17), and moisture in the analysis sample (AS 1038.3). It should
be noted that moisture-holding capacity is not equivalent to total moisture, and that residual
moisture is not equivalent to moisture in the analysis sample.
 AS 1038.1—2001 6

STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

Australian Standard
Coal and coke—Analysis and testing

Part 1: Higher rank coal—

Total moisture

S EC TION 1 S C OP E AND G E NER A L

1.1 SCOPE
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This Standard sets out methods for the determination of total moisture, free moisture and
residual moisture in higher rank coal. The methods are as follows:
(a) Drying in air at ambient temperature for free moisture.
(b) Distillation (Method A), for residual or total moisture.
(c) Drying in nitrogen at 105–110°C (Method B), for residual or total moisture.
(d) Drying in air at 105–110°C (Method C), for residual or total moisture.
Methods A and B are applicable to all higher rank coals. Method C is applicable only to
higher rank coals that are known not to be susceptible to significant oxidation.
Where the sample is visibly wet, determination of residual moisture by Method A, B or C is
preceded by the determination of free moisture.
NOTES:
1 A comparison of the ISO, BS, ASTM and AS Standard methods for determination of total
moisture in coal and its parts is presented in Appendix A.
2 Options for sample preparation and determination of total moisture in accordance with this
Standard are presented in a flowchart in Appendix B.

1.2 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS

The following documents are referred to in this Standard:
AS
1038 Coal and coke—Analysis and testing
1038.16 Part 16: Assessment and reporting of results
2096 Classification and coding systems for Australian coals
2243 Safety in laboratories (series)
2508 Safe storage and handling information cards for hazardous materials (series)
2706 Numerical values—Rounding and interpretation of limiting values
4264 Coal and coke—Sampling
4264.1 Part 1: Higher rank coal—Sampling procedures
ISO
589 Hard coal—Determination of total moisture
1988 Hard coal—Sampling

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testing Higher rank coal - Total moisture
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