PROXIMATE ANALYSIS OF COAL
Aristy Ed B. Pajaro
Department of Material Science and Engineering Technology
College of Engineering and Technology, MSU – Iligan Institute of Technology, 9200 Iligan CIty
INTRODUCTION
I. Background of the Study
Coal is an organic rock (as supposed to
most other rocks in the earth’s crust,
such as clay and sandstone, which are
inorganic), it is mostly Carbon, but it also
has Hydrogen, Oxygen, Sulfur and
Nitrogen, as well as some inorganic
constituents and water.
Proximate analysis publishes the nature,
quality and precise chemical
composition of a coal sample. This
analysis inspects and examines four
factors: moisture, volatile compounds,
ash content and fixed carbon. Results
and information acquired during
proximate analysis impacts coal prices
and analyses the most efficient use for
each sample.
II. Objectives of the Study
To study desires to resolve and
determine the moisture content, the ash
content, the volatile matter content and
the fixed carbon content of a coal
sample.
III. Significance of the Study
The proximate analysis of coal
determines the coal’s energy value.
Because so much depends on coal’s
heating ability, the proximate analysis
provides invaluable information about
22nd of May 2017 Mate 112 – A56
chemical composition. The outcome can
be calculated and be correlated in
comparison with different grades of coal
or even with other materials. Materials
of different grades will give varying
amount of heat for a given mass.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
I. Materials
The materials and equipment required
are the following: An electric muffle
furnace with temperature and draft
control, Mettler balance, porcelain
capsule with cover, platinum crucible,
dessicator with silica gel, spatula, drying
oven with airhole and most especially
the coal sample.
II. Methodology
Preparation of the coal sample is the
first thing to execute; it is done by
crushing the sample and grinding it next
with the mortar and pestle. Then the
fine sample is then filtered by using the
No. 60 mesh sieve and is placed in an
appropriate container to proceed to
quartering method to get the final
sample specimen.
The sample specimen is then now
introduced to Moisture Determination
by heating the crucible in the drying
oven at 104-110o C, then cool over a
dessicant and weigh. Then place
Mr. Nadzmi S. Sayadi
 approximately 1 g of sample using a
spatula, close and weigh at once. Preparation of Final
Sample Specimen
The weights obtained are 25.168 g,
27.449 g and 28.087 g before the
addition of the sample and after the Moisture
samples are poured in the crucible, the Determination
obtained weights are 27.170 g, 29.454 g,
and 30.091 g. The crucible is then now
place into the preheated oven and was Ash
heated for one hour. The crucibles are Determination
now removed then from the oven and
cooled, after cooling, it was then
Volatile Matter
weighed and the weights obtained are
Determination
26.522 g, 28.702 g, 29.413 g. Then the
moisture content will be then
Figure 1. Flow Chart of the Methodology
calculated.

Ash Determination then comes next,

place the crucible with the dried coal
sample from the previous procedure
which is the moisture determination in a
cold muffle furnace and gradually heat
to redness. Finish the ignition to
constant weight at a temperature
between 700 and 750o C. Cool in a
dessicator and weigh as soon as cold.
Only two crucibles are included in this
procedure, and weighed 25.850 g and
27.990 g.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Calculations of the moisture content, ash
content, volatile matter content, and fixed carbon
content are calculated after obtaining data from the
methodology.
Crucible Weight of Sample (g)
1 2.002
2 2.005
Table 1. Data obtained using Proximate Analysis of
Coal with 2 groups of sample

The other crucible not included in Ash

Determination is tested for Volatile Crucible Moisture % Ash %
Matter Determination and was directly Content Moisture Content Ash
placed into the furnace at 950o C. And (g) (g)
after heating for exactly 7 minutes, it 1 0.648 32.37 0.672 33.57
was then removed from the furnace and 2 0.752 37.51 0.712 35.51
was cooled and weighed and resulted Table 2. Moisture and Ash data obtained using
29.218 g. Proximate Analysis of Coal with 2 groups of sample

Calculations based on the gathered date

will be then performed and listed to
tables.

22nd of May 2017 Mate 112 – A56 Mr. Nadzmi S. Sayadi

 Crucible Weight of Sample (g) [3] How Coal Works (2017). Retrieved February 23,
3 2.004 2017 from
Table 3. Data obtained using Proximate Analysis of http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/coalvswind/bri
Coal with the separate sample ef_coal.html#.WLPCG1UrLIX

[4]http://standardlabs.thomasnet-
Crucible Moisture % Volatile % navigator.com/item/all-categories/ultimate-and-
Content Moisture Matter Volatile proximate-coal-analysis/item-1010?
(g) (g) Matter
3 0.678 33.83 0.195 9.73
Table 4. Data obtained in Volatile Matter
Determination with the separate sample

Crucible Weight of Fixed % Fixed

Sample (g) Carbon Carbon
Content (g)
1 2.002 0.487 24.33
2 2.005 0.346 17.26
3 2.004 0.439 21.91
Table 5. Calculated Fixed Carbon Content and Fixed
Carbon based on previous tables

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

After obtaining all these data from the

analysis, we can now figure out the characteristics
and features of the sample specimen. But we cannot
avoid instrumental and human errors when
conduction the experiment so we should put it into
consideration. So it is recommended to put into
focus the proper way and process of doing the
analysis. It is also recommended to determine other
elemental contents of the coal such as sulphur,
oxygen or nitrogen content.

REFERENCES

[1] http://www.ems.psu.edu/~radovic/Chapter7. Pdf

[2]Moisture Content Determination (2012).

Retrieved March 2, 2017 from
http://www.mt.com/ch/en/home/applications/Labo
ratory_weighing/Moisture_fam_browse_main.html

22nd of May 2017 Mate 112 – A56 Mr. Nadzmi S. Sayadi