Moisture, Volatile Matter, Ash, and Fixed

Carbon Determination in Coal

LECO Corporation; Saint Joseph, Michigan USA

Instrument: TGA701
Sample Preparation
Samples should be prepared in accordance with ASTM
Method D2013 or ASTM Practice D346. Coal reference
materials such as those offered by LECO and NIST are
properly prepared.

621-331 Large Ceramic Crucibles, 529-048 Large

Ceramic Covers

Calibration Samples
Calibration samples are used to calibrate volatile matter
content of samples and are normally not required for
moisture or ash determination. Select at least three coal
reference materials with known dry basis volatile matter
contents. The reference materials must cover the full
range of expected volatile matter contents of the coal
and samples that will routinely be analyzed. NIST, LECO,
or other suitable reference materials may be used.

Sample Mass

~1 gram

Method Reference
Analysis Time

ASTM D7582

~5 hours

Method General Parameters

Crucible Type
Crucible Density
Cover Density
Sample Type
Sample Density

Ceramic
3.00
3.00
Coal
1.50

Readability
Balance Environment
Balance Constancy
Minimum Weight
Maximum Weight
Zero Deviation
Retake Initial Weights

4
Stable
Absolute Weight (grams)
0.8000
1.2000
0.0005
False

Method Step Parameters

Parameter
Covers Off
Start Temp. C
End Temp. C
Ramp Rate
Ramp Time (h:m)
Hold Time (h:m)
Total Time (h:m)
Max Time (h:m)
Atmosphere
Flow Rate

Moisture
No
25
107
6
00:13
00:15
00:28
00:00
Nitrogen
High

Volatile
Yes
107
950
43
00:19
00:07
00:26
00:00
Nitrogen
High

Ash
No
600
750
3
00:50
00:00
00:50
00:00
Oxygen
Low

Window
Comparator
Final Weight

3
0.0005*
At
Constancy

0
100.0000
At
End of Step

3
0.0005*
At
Constancy

*Balance constancy set for Absolute Weight (grams)

System
Significant Digits
Barometric Pressure
Cover Open Half
Cover Open Full
Furnace Over Temp.
Increment Sample Names
Crucible Locations
Temperature Check
Alarm on Errors
Cover Option
Carousel Option
Batch Mode
Enable Lid Dispenser

Balance

F6
760
800
450
1200
Disable
Auto Find
False
True
Half Open
Weigh Position
False
False

Method Equation Parameters

Equation Name
Equation Text
Moisture
(([Initial Mass]-[Moisture Mass])/[Initial Mass])*100
Volatile
(([Moisture Mass]-[Volatile Mass])/[Initial Mass])*100
Ash
([Ash Mass]/[Initial Mass])*100
Fixed Carbon
100-([Moisture]+[Volatile]+[Ash])
Volatile Dry
[Volatile]*(100/(100-[Moisture]))
Ash Dry
[Ash]*(100/(100-[Moisture]))
Fixed Carbon Dry
100-([Volatile Dry]+[Ash Dry])

Organic Application Note

Accessories

Delivering the Right Results

Procedure
1. Create and/or select a method using the parameters
described above following the procedure outlined in
the TGA701 instruction manual.
2. Calibrate for volatile matter by using a minimum of
three coal reference materials by following the
procedure outlined in the TGA701 instruction
manual.
3. After calibration for volatile matter is complete,
analyze unknown samples following the procedure
outlined in the TGA701 instruction manual.

Typical Results (Dry Basis)

Sample
LECO 502-680
Coal
@ 17.1% Dry Vol,
11.0% Dry Ash
Avg
Std Dev
RSD

Mass g
1.0051
1.1049
1.0027
1.0589
1.0213
1.0386
0.04
4.175

% Moisture
0.92
0.93
0.92
0.91
0.92
0.9212
0.00590
0.641

% Volatile
17.08
17.09
17.13
17.09
17.12
17.10
0.018
0.104

% Ash
10.93
10.95
10.96
10.95
10.93
10.94
0.013
0.122

% Fixed C
71.99
71.96
71.92
71.96
71.96
71.96
0.026
0.036

LECO 502-681
Coal
@ 32.6% Dry Vol,
9.09% Dry Ash
Avg
Std Dev
RSD

1.0535
0.8800
0.8630
0.8531
0.9124
0.09
10.38

1.25
1.25
1.27
1.26
1.2550
0.00970
0.773

32.47
32.62
32.43
32.81
32.59
0.173
0.532

8.93
8.98
9.01
8.99
8.97
0.035
0.393

58.60
58.40
58.56
58.20
58.44
0.182
0.312

LECO 502-682
Coal
@ 41.3% Dry Vol,
5.81% Dry Ash

1.0691
0.9805
0.9779
1.0541
1.0387
1.0241
0.04
4.135

8.93
8.92
8.94
8.92
8.93
8.9266
0.00930
0.104

41.20
41.16
41.41
41.54
41.23
41.31
0.159
0.386

5.79
5.80
5.76
5.79
5.81
5.79
0.018
0.311

53.01
53.04
52.83
52.67
52.96
52.90
0.150
0.284

Avg
Std Dev
RSD

LECO Corporation | 3000 Lakeview Avenue | St. Joseph, MI 49085 | Phone: 800-292-6141 | Fax: 269-982-8977
info@leco.com www.leco.com | ISO-9001:2008 | No. FM 24045 | LECO is a registered trademark of LECO Corporation.

Form No. 203-821-311

3/15REV2

2015 LECO Corporation