A novel hollow cathode device for the detection of trace elements in coal ash

Abstract

The hollow cathode plume technique of spectroscopic analysis (HCP) is extended for the detection of trace elements such as arsenic, zinc, cadmium, lead, etc. in coal ash. Introducing a conical inner contour along with internal cooling of the hollow cathode, provides sufficient enhancement of spectral line intensity for the detection of small amounts of trace elements. Using the HCP technique on a coal ash sample supplied by NIST, the relative concentration of As to Zn was found to be within 2% of that obtained by NIST using independent techniques. Although the quantitative determination of the various trace elements in coal ash was beyond the scope of this initial study, ongoing work will establish the general viability of the technique.