Characterization of Coal Samples from Godavari Kani Deposits Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

Abstract

Coal is one of the most abundant organic fuels available in India. Understanding the properties of minerals and ash in coal will be helpful in providing a better knowledge of the factors that control their performance in furnaces. The convention tool for the analysis of mineral content is X-ray diffraction (XRD) method. The capability of XRD for quantitative analysis is restricted to the minerals with good crystal structures. For the amorphous and low crystalline minerals, XRD cannot provide accurate quantitative information. At the same time, even for minerals with a good crystal structure, XRD measurement is a time consuming technique. However, studies on minerals have suggested that FTIR spectroscopy is a superior alternative with respect to speed, accuracy and lower cost. FTIR technique has been used widely in the study of coal,minerals,fly ash and rock. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of sub bituminous coal samples, collected from a borehole located at Godavari kani deposit, Andhra Pradesh were recorded between 400 and 4000cm-1. A comparative study of mineral content in coke sample imported from China is also performed using FTIR spectroscopy.