NON-MATRIX CORRECTED ORGANIC SULFUR DETERMINATION BY ENERGY DISPERSIVE X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY FOR WESTERN KENTUCKY COALS AND RESIDUES.

A method for non-matrix corrected organic sulfur analysis by energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy has been developed using petroleum coke standards. Typically, electron beam microanalysis is a rapid, nondestructive analytical technique to quantitatively measure organic sulfur in coal. The results show good correlation to ASTM values for numerous well characterized coals with a wide range in total and pyritic sulfur content. This direct analysis is capable of reducing error commonly associated with the present ASTM method which relies on an indirect measure of organic sulfur by difference. The energy dispersive microanalysis is capable of measuring micro as well as bulk organic sulfur levels.