Determination of the carbon content in coal and ash by XRF

Abstract

Wavelength-dispersive x-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) was used for the determination of carbon in coal and ash samples. A rhodium side-window tube was used for C Kα excitation and a synthetic multilayer crystal (2d = 12.2 nm) for excited radiation analysis. The samples, undiluted or diluted with boric acid, were pressed as layers of 0.16 g cm−2 thickness on to a boric acid support. The relative standard deviation was 1.8, 1.5 and 15% for undiluted, diluted coal and ash, respectively. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.