Studies on elemental composition and physico-chemical properties of coal deposits in Lamza and Guyuk Local Government, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

This work examined some elemental composition and physico-chemical properties of coal deposits found in Lamza Village in Guyuk Local Government Area of Adamawa State. The major elements determined were carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulphur, while some of the physico- chemical properties examined include; moisture content, ash content, volatile matter, fixed carbon, pH and calorific value. Also the elemental composition of the coal ash was determined using XRF. The proximate analysis showed that the moisture content, ash, volatile matter, fixed carbon and Calorific values of the coal are 2.38 %, 14.18%, 38.25%, 44.17% and 5126.74Kcal/Kg respectively. The ultimate analysis shows that the coal has 69.2621% Carbon, 4.7550% Hydrogen, 7.0679% Oxygen, 1.3350% Nitrogen and 0.7200% Sulphur. Based on the result of the proximate and ultimate analysis, the coal is of good quality if power and heat generation is to be considered. Coal-ash elemental analysis of Guyuk (Lamza) coal shows that due to the low heavy metals and ash content of the coal, utilization of the coal within a safe environment is feasible with just a little or no negative environmental impact

Keywords: Analysis, Coal, Proximate, Oxides and Ultimate