Determining the Composition of Long-Flame Coal by Chemical and Instrumental Methods: A Comparison

For long-flame coal, the content of the basic elements in the organic mass (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen) is determined. Standard chemical methods are employed: accelerated determination of carbon and hydrogen; the Kjeldahl method for nitrogen; and the Eschka method for total sulfur. Their content is also determined by an instrumental method. The results are subjected to statistical analysis; the data from chemical and instrumental analysis are compared. For all the elements, the discrepancy is insignificant; the dispersion is uniform; and the results obtained by the methods may be regarded as equally accurate. On that basis, chemical coal analysis may be replaced by instrumental analysis, with considerable savings of time.