High temperature combustion, typically induction, is used to determine carbon and sulfur content in a variety of materials, both organic and inorganic. Alpha Resources supports the process by providing ceramic crucibles or ceramic boats as well as a certified reference materials (used in induction analysis of carbon and sulfur).

Typical Matrices: Steel-Rings, Steel-Pins, Chips-and-Powders-for--Carbon-Sulfur-Nitrogen, Tungsten-Carbide, Cast-Iron-thru-Wrought-Iron, Titanium-and-Zirconium-for-Carbon-and-Hydrogen, Copper-Pins-for-Sulfur-and-Oxygen

Coal has four main types, or ranks—lignite, sub-bituminous, bituminous, and anthracite—in order of increasing carbon and energy content. Most of the coal burned in U.S. power plants is bituminous or sub-bituminous coal. A fifth type, called metallurgical, or “coking” coal, is used for steelmaking. Coke is a residue remaining after certain types of coals are heated to a high temperature until substantially all of the volatile constituents have been driven off. The resulting residue is largely carbon, with minor amounts of hydrogen and sulfur.

Typical Matrices: Coal Powder, Coke Powders

Alpha offers a complete line of limestone and soil Certified Reference Materials to help determine the makeup and impurities of the sample analyzed by your lab. Our CRMs offer a wide range of Carbon, Sulfur and Nitrogen values to aid you in your combustion analysis test methods.

Typical Matrices: Soil Powders, Limestone Powders, Ore Powders

To conform to specific environmental regulations, fuel oil has a maximum sulfur content level which is typically set as a weight percent. Residual fuel oil is the heaviest among a range of different fuel oil grades. Residual fuel oil is primarily used in simple furnaces like power plants and industrial boilers, and also used as the primary fuel source on ocean liners. Specific standards are set for residual fuel oil by governments to maintain levels of performance and to meet environmental regulations.

Typical Matrices: Lube Oils, Residual Oils, Crude Oils, Vacuum Oils, Waste Oils, Diesel, Kerosene, Gasoline

Inert gas fusion method is used to analyze the material. A small sample of the material, usually under a gram, is weighed and placed in a graphite crucible. Next, it is burned in a stream of inert gas. Argon or nitrogen is used for hydrogen analysis, while helium is used for the oxygen/nitrogen analysis.

Typical Matrices: Steel-Pins-for-Oxygen-Nitrogen, Chips-for-Carbon-Sulfur-Nitrogen, Zirconium-Pins-for-Hydrogen-Nitrogen-Oxygen, Steel-Pin-for-Hydrogen, Titanium-Pins-for-Hydrogen-Oxygen-Nitrogen, Titanium-Zirconium-Pins-for-Hydrogen-Carbon, Copper-Pins-for-Oxygen-Sulfur, Iron-Powders-for-Oxygen-Nitrogen, Hydrogen-in-Carbon