ASTM Int'l to Develop Standard for Macro Thermogravimetric Analysis - ASTM WK19081
August 13, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS
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According to John T. Riley, a retired chemistry professor, Western Kentucky University, and a member of Committee D05, it is estimated that at least half the laboratories in the U.S. use macro TGA systems to run moisture, volatile matter and ash tests.
The proposed standard will have an impact on all labs using these systems.
"The most frequent tests run for all coal and coke samples are the determination of moisture and ash," said Riley. "The moisture values are used to calculate other analytical test results to different bases, as specified in contracts.
"In addition to estimating the amount of ash remaining after combustion, the ash values determined in the lab are used as quality control parameters for coal sampling and coal washing operations."
Riley said that 21 samples needed for an interlaboratory study were identified and are being gathered. The ongoing study includes three sets of samples for bituminous coals, sub-bituminous and lignitic coals and cokes.
ASTM WK19081 is under development by a task group under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee D05.21 on Methods of Analysis.
Source: ASTM International.