High resolution X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy : A potentially useful technique for chemical bonding studies in fossil fuels

Abstract

The high resolution oxygen (O-K) and carbon (C-K) X-ray fluorescence spectra of coals were taken on a 5 metre grating X-ray spectrometer. A comparison of the C-K spectra of a North Dakota lignite (Beulah) and a Utah bituminous coal (Deer Creek) established that more diverse π-bond character was present in the lignite which is consistent with the large oxygen to carbon π-bonding component in the latter. The intensities of the oxygen K emissions on three coal samples gave excellent correlation to the per cent oxygen on a moisture free basis as determined by indirect methods and offers a potentially easy direct method for the determination of oxygen.