STUDIES OF THE YIELD OF SULFUR FROM A COAL SAMPLE BY PYROLYSIS-GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY

An SBN standard coal 136 (20-100 mug) was pyrolysed in order to charac terise the sulphur in coal by Py-GC. The sulphur-containing pyrolysis products were separated and detected by a flame photometric detector. Simultaneously, a flame ionisation detector was used to measure the to tal amount of organic pyrolysis products. The influence of different c onditions, sample handling, inertness of the system and pyrolysis temp erature on the yield of sulphur was tested. The repeatability was good , even with sample sizes of less than 100 mug. The maximum yield of su lphur was about 40% at pyrolysis temperatures of between 1000 and 1400 -degrees-C. When the coal samples were combusted after pyrolysis, an a dditional 30% was detected. The reason for the low yield is discussed.