Coal with high ash content of 37.8% produced in Hokkaido was pulverized, sieved to smaller than 297 pm, and separated into a number of fractions with different ash content by the sink-float separation. The contents of 28 elements in the sink-float separates and the original coal were analyzed by use of a X-ray microanalyzer and a ICP emission spectral analyzer. The organic affinity index was defined and determined from the analytical results for each element.
The main elements, Si, Al, Fe, Ca, K, Na and Mg were almost uniformly dis-tributed in the ash, however, Ti showed strong organic affinity. In the minor and trace elements, only Mn showed weak affinity for inorganic matter. The elements, Pb, Mo, La and Cd showed weak organic affinities and the other elements, Ba, Sn, Cr, Ni, Sc, Y, Be, Co, Cu, Zn, Zr, As showed moderate or strong and V, Sr, B showed quite strong affinities. These results well agreed with the previously reported results for coals with low ash contents.
These results indicate that most trace or minor elements, some of which are suggested to be harmful to plants, domestic animals and/or human beeings, could hardly be removed from organic matter by the deashing processes of coal.
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