Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 March 2019
The intensity of Compton scattering, Fe, and Ca chatacteristic radiation can be used to estimate the amount of ash in coal by Xray fluorescence spectroscopy. Mo, W, and Cr radiation were used to study a suite of New Mexico coals, and the best results were obtained with Mo and W X-ray tubes. If the actual concentrations of Fe2O3 and CaO and the mass absorption coefficient, μ*, at the Compton wavelength of scattered Mo K radiation can be determined, the regression equation:
%Ash - 24.2μ* - 6.28(%Fe2O3) - 1.96(%CaO) - 3.4
estimates the ash content with an average error of 0.5% ash at 0.71Å.