Convert proximate Analysis into Ultimate Analysis by Correlation for

Coal

Ultimate and Proximate Analysis:

● Proximate analysis is the technique used to analyze the

moisture content, ash content, and fixed carbon of coal.
● The ultimate analysis is the technique used to analyze the
chemical composition of coal.
Ultimate analysis determines all coal components i.e. elements solids or
gaseous and it needs a properly equipped laboratory with a skilled
chemist. It is useful in determining the quality of air required for
combustion and the volume of combustion gases. This information is
required for the calculation of flame temperature and the flue dust etc.

Objective:

Conversion of proximate analysis into ultimate analysis having the

following importance i.e.
It is useful to determine the quantity of air required for combustion,
the volume, and composition of combustion gases.
It also helps us to know about the quality of coal by knowing about
sulfur content. This is important to know because sulfur corrodes the
boiler and furnace tubes and walls respectively.
We can also be able to decrease the atmosphere pollution to some extent.
The accurate results from this conversion of coal coke and biofuel are an
important step in processing operations.
Ultimate analysis tests produce more comprehensive results than
proximate analyses.
Limitations of Proximate Analysis:
It gives no form of elemental analysis which is very necessary in
chemical industry operations as we need to know the elemental
analysis report to accurately design the apparatus.

Apparatus Used:

● Digital Balance
● Crucible
● Tongs
● Desiccator
● Muffle Furnace
Sample:

1 gram of Coal

Procedure:

The following procedure is carried out for this analysis:

1. Firstly, 1 gram of coal sample is taken into a crucible with help of
the digital balance i.e. W1.
2. The proximate analysis of coal is done at respective
temperatures and times using a muffle furnace.
3. After the heating sample is placed into a desiccator with the
help of tongs for cooling purposes.
4. After heating and cooling it is re-weighted again i.e. W2.
 5. Using formulae, ash content, volatile matter, moisture content
are calculated.
6. These percentages can be converted to an ultimate analysis with
the help of the following calculations.

Calculations and Readings:

From Proximate Analysis;

% Ash Content = 32 %
% Moisture Content = 18 %
% Volatile Matter = 28 %
% Fixed Matter = 22 %
Ultimate Analysis:
● %C = 0.97C + 0.7 (V.M + 0.1A) - M(0.6 -0.01M)
%C = 0.97(22%) + 0.7 (28 + 0.1(32)) - 18(0.6 -0.01(18))
%C = 34.78 %
● %H= 0.036 + 0.086(VM -0.1A) - 0.0035 Mn(1-0.02M)
%H = 0.036(22%) + 0.086(28 + 0.1(32)) - 0.0035*2*(1-0.020)
%H = 2.41 %
● %N2 = 2.10 - 0.02 V.M
%N2 = 2% - 0.026(28%)
%N2 = 1.54