COAL ASH PARAMETERS BY NEUTRON-ACTIVATION

The coal parameters, ash content and ash slagging index, may be strong ly related to the chemical composition of mineral impurities in coal. Based on this assumption the authors have examined the feasibility of neutron activation techniques, both as a laboratory and a well logging method, by recording induced gamma-rays in the two energy intervals w ith the help of a scintillation gamma-ray spectrometer. Results from t he Upper Silesiab Coal Basin have shown that the method can be used to evaluate the ash content and ash fusion temperature, both in the labo ratory and in well logging: the corresponding mean standard deviations being 1.5 wt% and 35-degrees-C; and 3 wt% and 45-degrees-C, respectiv ely.