Radiometric determination of ash content of coal with variable chemical composition

The first part of the paper contains a review of the well knows radiometric methods of determining the ash content of coal, as well as the techniques for overcoming interferences due to variations of iron content. The advantages of the intrinsic compensation method with the use of 238Pu source, are shown. The experimental results concerning the other sources of errors, in particular grain size and water content effects, are presented. Precision, accuracy and possibilities of applying suggested method for rapid control of the ash content of coal in industry, are discussed. (author)