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Method for the direct determination of organic sulfur in raw coal
B. Paris
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Abstract
A method for the direct determination of organic sulfur in raw coal involves reaction of the coal with atomic and ionic oxygen species generated by coal oxidation in a plasma generated by a radiofrequency electric field (300 W, 13.56 MHz) at temperatures under 300/sup 0/C; this converts the carbon, hydrogen, sulfur, and nitrogen compounds to volatile oxides which are trapped at -196/sup 0/C. The trapped sulfur oxides are converted to sulfate and analyzed by ion chromatography. Inorganic sulfur other than pyrites did not react under these conditions, and pyrites oxidation was inhibited by coal or fly ash; thus, addition of pyrites to an Ohio coal with 6.3% total sulfur, 1.9% oganic, gave a ratio of observed to expected organic sulfur varying from 0.94:1 to 1.19:1. Application of the method to five coals with 0.68 to 6.3% total sulfur and to two organic sulfur compounds showed good repeatability and 90 to 95% recovery of sulfur from the pure compounds.