Nuclear methods, particularly neutron activation analysis (NAA) provide useful information about elemental constituents in coal and fly ash, but often other techniques are required to supplement NAA data. Spark source mass spectrometry and atomic absorption have been studied as methods for determination of certain elements in coal that are not easily measured by NAA. In work concerned with the chemical speciation of elements in fly ash, a number of analytical techniques have been used; these include NAA, chemical etching and separation, optical and electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction.
Nuclear techniques have been used to obtain much of the data concerned with inorganic constituents in coal. The data obtained on concentrations of trace and macroelements in coal and fly ash have been studied by several groups in an effort to understand how inorganics are distributed in coal and how they redistribute themselves upon combustion and later in the environment. Among the questions remaining are the chemical species of elements in the ash and how these elements interact with environmental factors such as soil and water. Briefly, Hs, Cl and Br remain completely in the gas phase when coal is burned; As, Cd, Ga, Pb, Se and Zn are concentrated in the fly ash; and 25 other listed elements are incorporated into the slag. Certain other information on trace elements in various coals is given.
The increased demand on fossil fuels for energy production has resulted in expanded research and development efforts on direct use of fossil fuels and conversion of fossil fuels into synthetic fuels. These efforts have focused on the efficiency of the energy production and/or conversion processes, and of the emission control technology, as well as delineation of the health and environmental impacts of those processes and their by-products. A key ingredient of these studies is the analytical capability necessary to identify and quan tify those chemicals of interest in the process and by-produce streams from coal combustion, oil shale retorting, petroleum refin ing, coal l1quifaction and gasification. These capabilities are needed to analyze a formidable range of materials including liquids, solids, gases and aerosols containing large numbers of criteria and pollutants including potentially hazardous polynuclear aromatic hy drocarbons, organo-sulfur and organo-nitrogen species, trace elements and heavy metals, among others. Taking notice of these developments we sought to provide a forum to discuss the latest information on new and novel applica tions of a subset of those necessary analytical capabilities, namely atomic and nuclear techniques. Consequently, we organized the con ference on Atomic and Nuclear Methods in Fossil Fuel Energy Research, which was held in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico from December 1 to December 4, 1980."
The increased demand on fossil fuels for energy production has resulted in expanded research and development efforts on direct use of fossil fuels and conversion of fossil fuels into synthetic fuels. These efforts have focused on the efficiency of the energy production and/or conversion processes, and of the emission control technology, as well as delineation of the health and environmental impacts of those processes and their by-products. A key ingredient of these studies is the analytical capability necessary to identify and quan tify those chemicals of interest in the process and by-produce streams from coal combustion, oil shale retorting, petroleum refin ing, coal l1quifaction and gasification. These capabilities are needed to analyze a formidable range of materials including liquids, solids, gases and aerosols containing large numbers of criteria and pollutants including potentially hazardous polynuclear aromatic hy drocarbons, organo-sulfur and organo-nitrogen species, trace elements and heavy metals, among others. Taking notice of these developments we sought to provide a forum to discuss the latest information on new and novel applica tions of a subset of those necessary analytical capabilities, namely atomic and nuclear techniques. Consequently, we organized the con ference on Atomic and Nuclear Methods in Fossil Fuel Energy Research, which was held in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico from December 1 to December 4, 1980."
A study has been conducted to identify nonstandard and novel instrumental analysis techniques and to evaluate their potential for development to provide new types of sensors for on-line analysis of coal and for other fossil energy applications. New methods from basic research, and methods used or considered for use in other industries such as mineral and basic metal industries, in petroleum and other well logging, and in biomedical applications have been examined. Particular fossil energy applications have been identified, and equipment requirements and spoolpiece and window requirements for process stream measurements, development status, obstacles to be overcome in development, and other relevant topics have been investigated. Over 60 distinct nuclear techniques (or variations on techniques) have been identified, most of which can be used to determine element concentrations in bulk materials, many of which have potentially significant applicability to coal analysis. The present paper highlights and summarizes some of the more important substantive content abstracted from an extensive and detailed report of the investigation. 9 references, 6 tables.
