Chemometric analysis: a tool to predict the release behaviour of hazardous trace elements (HTEs) during coal mining and utilization

of Hazardous Trace Elements (HTEs) into the environment is influenced by both natural and anthropogenic activities. In the present study, chemometric analysis is applied as a tool to evaluate the release behaviour of Hazardous Trace Elements (HTEs) during coal mining and utilization processes. Statistical tools like Principal Component Analysis (PCA), cluster analysis, and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) were applied on the TE concentrations of raw coals and thermally treated coals. PCA and LDA successfully predicted the association of potentially hazardous elements contained in coal and their release behaviour. Consistency of chemometric results with the experimental results indicates that it can be used for analyzing release behaviour of HTEs during mining and utilization.