Analysis of COAL

Coal is known as fossil fuel since it is formed from

fossilised

remains
of plants and animals.
Coalification takes place by two processes:

a) Streptococcus etc., convert cellulosic plant materials into peat

Biochemical coalification.
b) In the second stage, chemical reactions take place at high temp.
> 300oC and high pressure over a period of 107-108 years which
convert peat into different coal forms.
Ranking of coal:

Peat
> Lignite
> Bituminous > Anthracite
(4125-5400) (6500-7100)
(8000-8500)
(8650-8700)
based on the calorific value (K.Cal/Kg), volatile matter, moisture, H, O,
N and S contents.

Analysis of Coal
Two types of analysis:

a)

Proximate Analysis

- Gives valuable information about utility of coal

- Can assess the quality of coal
- Can be used to determine moisture, volatile matter, Ash,
Fixed carbon.

b)

Ultimate Analysis

- Useful in combustion calculations

- Can be used to determine Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen,
Sulphur, Ash and Oxygen.

Proximate Analysis
Moisture content:

(i)

- Should be low since it quenches the fire

- Upto 10% moisture in fuel produces low fly ash
- Higher moisture converts into steam and hence the calorific value comes down
()

Determination of moisture content:

- By weight loss method
% moisture

(ii)

Loss in weight X 100

Wt. of coal taken

Volatile Matter:
- Volatile matter present in coal may be combustible gases such as Hydrogen,
CO, methane and other lower hydrocarbons) or non-combustible gases like CO2
and N2
- Volatile matter escapes unburnt from coal and hence undesirable.
- Volatile matter results in
a) long flame b) high smoke c) low calorific value

Proximate Analysis
Determination of Volatile matter:
- Weight loss method by heating at 925+/-20oC for 7 minutes in a muffle
furnace by putting coal in a crucible.
Loss in weight due to removal of volatile matter
% Volatile matter =
X 100

Wt. of coal sample taken

(iii) Ash:

- Ash is non-combustible useless material left behind during combustion

- Reduces calorific value
- Causes hindrance to flow of heat (reduces efficiency of heating)
- Increases transportation, handling and storage costs
- Burning of coal becomes irregular
Determination of Ash:
Wt. of Ash formed
% Ash =
X 100
Wt. of dry coal taken

Proximate Analysis
(iv) Fixed carbon:
-Represents the quantity of carbon present in coal that can be burnt
- High the %Carbon, higher will be the calorific value of the fuel
- Helps in designing the furnace since it is fixed C that burns in solid form
Determination of Fixed Carbon:

% fixed carbon = 100 (%moisture+ volatile matter + ash)

If we remove from the weight of coal the moisture, volatile matter and
ash, the remaining weight will be because of fixed Carbon alone.

Ultimate Anaysis
(i)

C and H in coal

()

Percentage of Carbon decides the rank of the coal

Higher % of carbon and H, better is the quality of coal.
Higher C will give higher calorific value

()
()

Determination :
()
()

A weighed quantity of coal (1-2 g) is burnt in a current of dry oxygen.

They are oxidised to CO2 and H2O
C + O2

()

CO2

and

H 2 + O2

H 2O

These gaseous products are passed through two bulbs containing anhhydrous CaCl 2
and KOH respectively to get moisture and CO2 absorbed to give
a) CaCl2 +7 H2O

CaCl2 . 7H2O

b) 2 KOH + CO2

K2CO3 + H2O

and

()

Initial weight and final weight of CaCl2 and KOH in the bulbs are measured

()

Increase in weight of CaCl2 gives the

weight of water formed while increase in

weight of KOH gives the weight of CO2 formed

Carbon and Hydrogen determination in coal

Ultimate Anaysis
(ii) Nitrogen in coal:

Nitrogen is a inert and non-combustible gas and hence

undersirable in coal.
Good quality of coal should have low% of N
Teflon
tube

Determination of N2 in coal:

Nitrogen in coal is determined by Kjeldahls method.

1 g (approx.) of powdered coal is heated with conc. H 2SO4

along with K2SO4 and CuSO4 in a long necked flask (Kjeldahl
flask).

When the solution becomes clear (whole N 2 is converted into

ammonium sulphate), excess NaOH is added to liberate
ammonia.

The ammonia thus produced is distilled over and absorbed

in a known volume (V1) of N/10 H2SO4 std. solution.
2NaOH
N2 + H2SO4
2 NH3 + H2SO4

2 Na2SO4

+ 2 NH3 + 2H 2O

(NH4)2SO4

Plastic
water
aspirator

Ultimate Anaysis
Amt. of N/10 H2SO4 consumed to neutralise ammonia evolved
= N/10 x V1 N/10 x V2 = 0.1 (V1 - V2) milli eq.
= 0.1 (V1 - V2) / 1000 equiv.
0.1 (V1 - V2)

Wt. of N

1000

x 100
Wt. of N

%N =

x 100
Wt. of coal sample taken (1 g)

0.1 (V1 - V2) / 1000

X 14 x 100

= 0.1 (V1 - V2) x 1.4

i.e.

% N = 0.1 (V1 V2) x 1.4

Ultimate Anaysis
(iii) Sulphur:
In spite of the high calorific value of S, on combustion it produces SO 2 and SO3(toxic)

gases.
Sulphur is undesirable in coal when coal is to be converted into coke which will badly

affect the quality and properties of steel when coke is used in steel industry.

Determination of S:
A known amount of coal is burnt in bomb calorimeter in a current of oxygen when S

gets oxidised into sulphate.

The ash from the calorimeter is extracted with dil HCl.
The acid extract is treated with BaCl2 to precipitate BaSO4.
The ppt. is dried, weighed.

S
32
Wt. of Sulphur =
% S in coal =

SO4232

BaSO4
233

x Wt. of BaSO4 ppt.

233
Wt. of BaSO4 ppt. x 32 x 100

Wt. of coal samples taken in the bomb x 233

Ultimate Anaysis
(iv) Ash:
Ash is determined using Proximate analysis of coal.

(v) Oxygen:
Oxygen is present in combined form with hydrogen in coal and because of

this, the available free hydrogen in coal is less than the actual hydrogen.
High oxygen content indicates high moisture content in the coal. (an increase

of 1% in oxygen content will reduce the calorific value of the coal by 1.7%).
Hence, good quality coal should have less oxygen.

Determination of Oxygen:
Oxygen in coal is determined by deducting C, H, S and ash from 100.

% oxygen = 100 - % of (C + H + N + S + Ash)