MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY

ILIGAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

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www.msuiit.edu.ph +63.63.221.4056

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF METALLURICAL, CERAMICS & MINING
ENGINEERING

METE E 112 (Metallurgical Analysis)

Laboratory Report
ACTIVITY 1: PROXIAMATE ANALYSIS of COAL

Performed by:

Al Ignatius F. Mabolis

Submitted to:

Prof. Nadzmi S. Sayadi

INTRODUCTION
All over the world, there has always been the prevalence of coals. A coal is a

solid, usually brown or black, carbon-rich material that most often occurs in stratified

sedimentary deposits as the most important of the primary fossil fuels. In modern

utilization, coal has been used as a source of energy; as a chemical feedstock from which
numerous synthetic compounds can be derived and other productions for metallurgical

processes.

Coal has chemical components and properties and there are commonly employed

systems of classification that can be performed in the laboratory using two analyses.

Hence, coal can be analysed in the form of proximate and ultimate analyses. The

experiment conducted used the typical proximate analysis of the moisture, ash, volatile

matter, and fixed carbon contents of coal samples after heated and weighed.

Proximate analysis has been used to determine the rank of coals by separating

volatile components, fixed carbon and inert components. It is important because

proximate analysis helps in giving a vague idea about the quality of coal used in different

industries based on their requirements.

OBJECTIVE

The experiment determined the content of a coal sample on its:

moisture
ash
volatile matter
fixed carbon

MATERIAL/APPARATUS

Electric muffle furnace (up to 100C), with temperature and draft control

Mettler balance

Porcelain capsule with cover

Desiccator with silica gel

Spatula

Drying oven (104-110C) with air holes

 Coal sample passing No. 60 mesh sieve non-sparking

PROCEDURES

The following procedures were observed throughout the experiment:

A. Moisture Determination According to ASTM D3173-73

Heat the capsule with the cover in the drying oven at 104-110C, cool over

a desiccant and weigh, put approximately one gram of coal sample using a

spatula, close and weigh at once.

Remove the cover, place the capsule in the preheated oven and heat for

one hour. Open the oven, cover the capsule, cool the capsule over

desiccant and weigh as soon as it is cold.

B. Ash Determination According to ASTM D3174-73 (79)
Place the porcelain capsule with the dried coal sample from the moisture

determination in a cold muffle furnace and gradually heat to redness.

Finish the ignition to constant weight ( 0.1 mg) at a temperature between

700 and 750C. Cool in a desiccator and weigh as soon as cold.

C. Volatile Matter Determination According to ASTM D3175-77
Weigh one gram of sample in a weighed porcelain crucible, close with

cover and put directly into the furnace at 950C. After the more rapid

discharge of VM hs subsided, inspect the crucible to verify if lid is still

properly seated. If necessary, reset the lid to quickly prevent admission of

air and put the crucible back to the 950C zone. After heating for exactly 7

minutes remove the crucible from the furnace and without disturbing the

furnace, allow it to cool and then weigh

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

 A. Results

Trial Sample Moisture Content Ash Content Volatile Matter Fixed Carbon
grams grams % grams % grams % grams %
1 2.002 0.648 32.37 0.672 33.57 0.195 9.73 0.487 24.33
2 2.005 0.752 37.51 0.712 35.51 0.346 17.25

The objective of proximate analysis indicates the percentage by weight of the

moisture and ash contents as well as volatiles in coal. Ash content of a coal is the residue

after the combustion of coal at specified condition s. This residue does not occur

originally in the coal but as a result of chemical changes that occur during the

combustion process.

The amounts of fixed carbon and volatile combustible matter directly contribute

to the heating value of coal. Fixed carbon acts as a main heat generator during burning.

High volatile matter content indicates easy ignition of fuel. The ash content is important

in the design of the furnace grate, combustion volume, pollution control equipment and

ash handling systems of a furnace.

Table 4.1 Tabular Data for Moisture Determination

Initial Weight of Weight of capsule Remaining Moisture
capsule after heating, W2 coal sample, content, %
(w/o cover) + 2 g of (g) (g)
coal, W1 (g)
27.170 26.522 0.648 32.37

29.454 28.702 0.752 37.51

 W 1W 2 27.17026.522
Moisture content , = 100 = 100 =32.37
initial g of coal 2.002

W 1W 2 29.45428.702
Moisture content , = 100 = 100 =37.51
initial g of coal 2.005

Table 4.2 Tabular Data for Ash Determination

Weight of empty Weight of capsule, Initial weight Ash content, %
capsule and cover, cover, and ash of coal
Wa, (g) residue, Wb, (g) sample, (g)
25.168 25.850 2.002 34.07
27.449 27.990 2.005 26.98

W b W a 25.85025.168
Ash content , = 100 = 100 =34.07
initial g of coal 2.002

W b W a 27.99027.449
Ash content , = 100 = 100 =26.98
initial g of coal 2.005

Table 4.3 Tabular Data for Volatile Matter

Initial Initial Weight of Weight of Volatile
Weight of Weight of crucible the crucible Matter, %
crucible crucible + after at 950C,W2
2 g of coal, heating, W1 (g)
(g) (g)
28.087 30.191 29.413 29.218 19.5

Volatile Matter , =( W 2W 1) 100 =( 29.41329.218 ) 100 =19.5

Table 4.3 Tabular Data for Fixed Carbon

Volatile Matter, Moisture Ash Content, % Fixed Carbon, %
% Content, %

19.5 32.37 34.07 14.06

37.51 26.98 16.01

Carbon, =100( %VM + %M+ %ASH )=100(19.5+32.37+ 34.07)=14.06

Carbon, =100( %VM + %M+ %ASH )=100(19.5+37.51+26.98)=16.01

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

The data in this study demonstrates that the desiccator is capable of giving

reproducible proximate analysis of coal. It can be concluded that coal sample passing

No. 60 mesh sieve non-sparking has close proximate analysis data compared to other

coal. This work using proximate analysis as performed with ASTM analyzer continues to

be a useful tool for rapid analysis of small quantities of coal.

It is recommended that a sturdier container for the coal sample should be

used to avoid a crucible from breaking when heating at a very high

temperature.

REFERENCES
Kopp, O. C. (2016). Coal. Fossil Fuel. Retrieved on February 22, 2017 from URL:
https://www.britannica.com/science/coal-fossil-fuel
Cassel, B. and Menard, K. (2016). Proximate Analysis of Coal and Coke using the STA
8000 Simultaneous Thermal Analyzer. Retrieved on February 23, 2017 from
URL: http://www.perkinelmer.com/CMSResources/Images/44-
142549APP_Proximate_Analysis_Coal_Coke.pdf