ABSTRACT
The chapter describes in detail notable analysis methods required to effectively characterize coal. This includes multiple methods of analyzing sulfur content, both in total and as individual sulfur species, and coal washability. The chapter describes both laboratory analytical techniques and on-stream analysis equipment. These include standard quantitative analytical techniques with high-temperature combustion furnaces and other effective techniques such as optical microscopy and on-line prompt gamma neutron activation analysis. The application of several spectroscopic methods to coal is discussed, including X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, Auger electron spectroscopy, and secondary ion mass spectroscopy.
