Characterization of Macerals in Coal Fines using Image Analysis Technique

Abstract

Coal is an aggregate of heterogeneous substance consisting of various or aiiic cemsti-tnents so called nuacerals along with inorganic matter. These inacerals have been broadly classified into three major maceral groups i.e. vitrinite, exinite (liptinite) and inertinite. Coal-fines of size less than 0.5 mm, collected from Moonidih coal washery, was used in the present stud. These coal fines were subjected to size analysis and sink-float analysis. The products obtained at different size and density fractions were mounted in resin + hardener mixture using standard sample preparation technique and polished- The polished samples were examined tender- microscope inte-rfaced with image analyzer: Results indicate that size and density fractions have a significant influence on the changes in the maceral concentrations. The same has been discussed in terms of physical coal cleaning, process.