Investigation of a high-pressure pressed powder pellet technique for the analysis of coal by wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy

Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (WDXRF) was applied successfully to the determination of carbon, nitrogen and ash content in coal samples. This could provide an alternative method for the rapid analysis of carbon, nitrogen and ash content in the coal rather than the combustion method or the high-frequency infrared absorption with a slow ashing method. Furthermore, WDXRF could provide simultaneous determination of other major, minor and trace elements by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. The XRF results indicated that the sensitivity, precision, and limit of detection for most components were improved when the coal sample was pressed at 1600 kN compared with preparation at 400 kN.