ASTM d388 1998
ASTM d388 1998
ASTM d388 1998
e
Document Name: ASTM D388: Standard Classification of Coals by Rank
CFR Section(s):
40 CFR 60.251(b)
Official Incorporator:
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
~~l~
Designation: D 388
~ 98a
Standard Classification of
Coals by Rank1
This standard is issued under the fIxed designation D 388; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon () indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This standard covers the classification of coals by rank,
that is, according to their degree of metamorphism, or progreSsive alteration, in the natural series from lignite to anthnwite.
1.2 This classification is applicable to coals that are composed mainly of vitrinite.
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions-For additional definitions of tenns used in
this classification, refer to Terminology D 121.
3.1.1 agglomerating, adj-as applied to coal, the property
of softe~ng when it is heated to above about 400C in a
nonoxidizing ,atmosphere, and then appearing as a coherent
mass after cooling to room temperature.
3.1.2 apparent rank, n-of coal, the rank designation obtained on samples other than channel samples or core samples
with 100 % recovery, but otherwise conforming to procedures
of Classification D 388.
3.1.3 coal seam, n-the stratum, layer, or bed of coal that
lies between two other rock layers whose compositions differ
significantly from that of coal.
3.2 Abbreviations-Where it is desired to abbreviate the
designation of the ranks of coal, the following abbreviations
shall be used:
ma-meta-anthracite
an-anthracite
sa-semianthracite
lvb-low volatile bituminous
mvb-medium volatile bituminous
hv Ab-high volatile A bituminous
hvBb-hj.gh volatile B bituminous
hvCb-high volatile C bitumirious
subA-subbituminous A
subB-subbituminous B
1.3 The values stated in British thennal units per pound are
to be regarded as the standard. The SI equivalents of British
thennal units per pound are approximate. All other values in SI
units are to be regarded as standard.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D 121 Terminology of Coal and Cbke2
D 720 Test Method for Free-Swelling Index of Coal 2
D 1412 Test Method for Equilibrium Moisture of Coal at 96
to 97 Percent Relative Humidity and 30C 2
D 1757 Test Method for Sulfur in Ash from Coal and Coke2
D 2013 Method of Preparing Coal Samples for Analysis2
D 2015 Test Method for Gross Calorific Value of Coal and
Coke by the Adiabatic Bomb Calorimeter2
D 2234 Practice for Collection of a Gross Sample of Coa12
1 This classifIcation is under the jurisdiction of AS1M Committee D-5 on Coal
and Coke and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D05.18 on Classification
of Coals.
Current edition approved Sept. 10, 1998. Published November 1998. Originally
published as D 388 - 34 T. Last previous edition D 388 - 98.
2 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 05.05.
188
~t D 388
subC-subbituminous C
ligA-lignite A
ligB-lignite B
4. Significance and Use
4.1 This classification establishes categories of coal based on
gradational properties that depend principally on the degree of
metamorphism to which the coal was subjected while buried.
These categories indicate ranges of physical and chemical characteristics that are useful in making broad estimates of the
behavior of coal in mining, preparation, and use.
5. Basis of Classification
5.1 Classification is according to fixed carbon and gross
calorific value (expressed in British thermal units per pound)
calculated to the mineral-matter-free basis. The higher-rank
coals are classified according to fixed carbon on the dry basis;
the lower-rank coals are classified according to gross calorific
value on the moist basis. Agglomerating character is used to
differentiate between certain adjacent groups.
6. Classification by Rank
6.1 Fixed Carbon and Gross Calorific Value-Coals shall
be classified by rank in accordance with Table 1. Classify coals
having gross calorific values of 14000 Btullb or more on the
moist, mineral~matter-free basis, and coals having fixed caroon
of 69 % or more on the dry, mineral-matter-free basis, according to fixed carbon on the dry, mineral-matter-free basis.
Classify coals having gross calorific values less than 14000
Btullb on the moist,mineral-matter-free basis according to
gross calorific value on the moist, mineral-matter-free basis,
provided the fixed carbon on the dry, mineral-matter-free basis
is less than 69 %..
6.2 Agglomerating Character-Classify coals having 86 %
or more fixed carbon on the dry, mineral-matter-free basis, if
agglomerating, in the low volatile group of the bituminous
class. Classify coals having gross calorific values in the range
from 10 500 to 11 500 Btullb on the moist, mineral-matter-free
basis according to their agglomerating character (Table 1).
6.3 Supplemental Information-A correlation of the ranking
property, volatile matter (lOO-fixed carbon), with the meanmaximum reflectance of the vitrinite group macerals in coals
tested in one laboratory over a period of several years is shown...
in Appendix Xl.
7. Sampling
. 7.1 Samples-Classify a 'coal' seam, or part of a coal seam,
in any locality based on the average analysis and gross calorific
value '(and agglomerating character where required) of hot less
than three and preferably five or more face channel samples or
core samples taken in different and uniformly distributed
localities, either within the same mine or closely adjacent
mines representing a continuous and compact area not greater,
than approximately four square miles in regions of geological
uniformity. In regions in which conditions indicate that the
coal probably varies rapidly in short distances, the spacing of
sampling points and grouping of analyses to provide average
values shall not be such that coals of obviously different rank
will be used in calculating aver~ge values.
189
4t
D 388
Equal or
Greater Than
Less
Thim
Greater
Than
Equal or
Less Than
98
92
86
98
92
2
8
2
8
14
86
78
69
14
22
31
Mj/kg C
Btullb
Class/Group
Equal or
Greater
Than
Less
Than
Equal or
Greater
Than
Agglomerating Character
Less
Than.
Anthracitic:
M~ta-anthracite
Anthracite
Semianthracite D
Bituminous:
Low volatile bituminous coal
Medium volatile bituminous coal
High volatile A bituminous coal
High volatile bituminous coal
High volatile C bituminous coal
78
69
'}
.....
nonagglomerating
22
31
14000E
13000 E
Subbituminous:
Subbituminous A coal
Subbituminous coal
Subbituminous C coal
11500
10500
14000
13000
11500
32.6
30.2
26.7
24.4
32.6
30.2
26.7
10500
9500
8300
11500
10500
9500
24.4
22.1
19.3
24.4
~7}
22.1
} oommoolY"9,Iom,""'o,'
agglomerating
nonagglomerating
Lignitic:
Lignite A
Lignite
6300t
8300
6300
14.7
19.3
14.7
Practice D 3172. Deterrnjne its gross calorific value in accordance with either Test Method D 2015 or D 3286. Determine
the sulfur trioxide (S03) retained in the ash in accordance with
Test Method D 1757 and express the result on a dry basis.
Inherent moisture is reported as as-received moisture if the
sample was collected according to 7.1.1 or as eqllilibrium
moisture if 7.1.6 (Test Method D 1412) applies.
8.2 Adjust the ash value determined in accordance with Test
Method D 3174 to be free of sulfate as follows:
in the volatile matter determination, produce either an agglomerate button that will support a 500-g weight without pulverizing, or a button showing swelling or cell structure, shall be
considered agglomerating from the standpoint of classification.
In addition, a result of 1.0 or more on the Free Swelling Index
test (Test Method D 720) may also be used to indicate the coal
is agglomerating; a result of 0.5 or 0 indicates the coal is
nonagglomerating.
where:
A
adjusted ash value on the inhe~ent moist basis;
ash yield, dry basis, determined in accordance with
Te'st Method D 3174;
S03 in the ash determined in accordance with
Test Method D 1757; and
M
inherent moisture.
Add to the value of fixed carbon that is determined in
accordance with Practice D 3172 the value of the S03 determined in the ash to obtain the value FC t6 be used in Eq 2.
+ 1.08A + 0.55S)X2)
= 100(Btu -
50S)/(100 - (1.08A
(3)
+ 0.55S)14)
where:
Btu
FC
VM
255.
190
qt
A
S
=
=
D 388
S03-free basis in accordance with 8.2.
ash, %; and
sulfur, %.
10. Keywords
10.1 anthracite; bituminous; coal; lignite; rank
Fixed carbon (FC) and ash (A) are both adjusted to the
APPENDIX
(Nonmandatory Information)'
Xl. CORRELATION OF VOLATILE MATTER WITH MEAN-MAXIMUM REFLECTANCE OF VITRINITE
DisJribution Midpoints
Rank
<1.1
1.10-1.45
1.45-2.0(?)
hvb
mvb
Ivb
50
eft
45
..
...;
;:
40
:E
35
u::
:E
e.:
..
30
GI
otJ
otJ
I'CJ
:E
~
:;::
I'CJ
25
..~.."..~.
20
"0
> 15
10
..
"."..
. ..
LOW VOLATILE
c
SEMI-ANTRA CITE
0.4
O.S
0.6
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.S
FIG. Xl.l' Relation Between the Rank of U.S. Coals and Vitrinite
Reflectance
r:'
X2.1 Introduction-Coals are ranked according to Classification D 388 on a mineral matter-free basis, dry or moist, depending
on the parameter that applies. The rank parameters-'-either
volatile matter (or fixed carbon) or gross calorific values~are
commonly reported by laboratories on the as-received, dry-apd-;
ash-free basis. These reported values must be converted to the
mineral-matter-free basis for ranking purposes~ Thus converted"
the properties of the maceral (carbonaceous) material are used as
ranking criteria, and the effects of variable mineral matter contents, which are unrelated to rank, are eliminated. In essence, only
the "pure coal"fraction of a given sample is being ranked. The
Parr formula is used to estimate the original mineral matter in the
coal by using the ash yield and total sulfur content determined on
that coal as follows:
11m =
1.08 A
+ 0.55 S'
where:
A = ash yield (ASTM Test Method D 3174) and
S= total sulfur content (ASTM Test Methods D 3177).
This fOrlnula 'assumes that c1~y.minerals, with an average water
of hydration content of 8 %, and pyrite, which contains
essentially all the sulfur, are the only mineral groups pres~nt.
Furthel111;Qre, the following reactions are assumed to occur
during ashing: (1) the hydroxyl groups from the'c1ayminerals
are lost to the atmosphere; (2) the sulfur 'converts to sulfur
dioxide, which also is lost; and (3) pyrite decomposes to iron;
o{Cide and iron is retained in the ash. The Parr formula attempts
to correct the measured ash and sulfur for these reactions by
adjusting their mass back to that of the original minerals in the
coal. By using this fOlmula, the varying arnbimts 'of mineral
matter can be factored out of the ranking of coals. For example,
Samples A and B in Table X2.1 are both ranked' iisLignite A
because, they have similar gross calorific values, when Cfllculated toa moist, mineral-matter-free basis (gross calorific
valuem,mmf)' in contrast to their gross calorific values which are
quite different on an as-received basis. In' this example,
differing mineral contents are thus factored out for the purposes of ranking.
Section X2.3 provides useful equations that enable the,
ranking parameters to be calculated from laboratory .re~mlts on
the dry basis for volatile,matter, ash, and sulftir.
.
19~
~t D 388
TABLE X2.1
Sample B
Sample C
Sample D
Sample E
Sample F
34.79
5.65
30.32
29.24
0.71
7676
32.45
11.93
28.07
27.55
1.15
7093
14.94
7.57
33.89
43.60
0.66
10178
9.85
6.00
32.81
51.34
3.07
10178
9.20
7.54
31.69
51.57
1.14
12077
1.88
11.86
25.27
60.99
0.33
13045
8.66
46.50
44.84
1.09
11771
17.66
41.55
40.78
1.70
10500
8.90
39.84
51.26
0.78
11966
6.66
36.39
56.95
3.41
11290
8.30
34.90
56.80
1.26
13301
12.09
25.75
62.16
0.34
13295
0
11.00
0.62
5.03
5.82
29.86
0
10.57
1.26
10.67
12.16
28.81
0
9.75
0.74
6.83
7.74
44,34
2
2.17
0.13
5.87
8.03
51.47
4
2.18
0.16
7.38
8.59
51.73
2.5
2.27
0.27
11.59
12.70
61,26
8113
49.90
50.10
8009
48.30
51.70
10996
42,78
57,22
10899
37.89
62.11
13150
37.28
62.72
14924
28,34
71,66
non.
Jig A
non.
Jig A
non.
sub A
aggl.
hvCb
aggl.
hvBb
aggl.
mvb
Footnote 6.
The as-received basis is equivalent to the inherent-moisture-containing basis only for samples collected and preserved as described in Section 7. For samples not
meeting those criteria, data should be adjusted from the as-received basis to the inherent-moisture-containing basis.
C Values corrected to sulfate-free ash basis per Classification D 388, Section 8.2. These adjusted parameters are used to calculate rank-determining values.
D Parameters used for ranking each sample using Classification D 388 Table 1 are shown in bold type. The other values are shown for informational and comparison
purposes only.
A
(X2.1)
where:
.
VMdirlm/ =
S03.d) - OASd
( 100
VM';- 0.08 Ad 1-
(SOlO~d) - O.OOSSSd
1 - 0.0108 Ad 1 -
192
~t D 388
equation (Eq 4, Section 9 above)-gross calorific value on the
moist, mineral-matter-free basis (Btum,mmf) is equivalent to:
lOO(Btud
50Sd)
l.08Ad 1 - lO~d
O.55Sd
The American Society for Testing and Materials takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection
with any item mentioned in this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such ,
patent rights, and the risk of infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.
This standard is subject to revision at any time by the responsible technical committee and must be reviewed every five years and
if not revised, either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for additional standards
and should be addressed to ASTM Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration ill a meeting of the responsible
lechnical committee, which you may attend. If you feel that your comments have not received a fair hearing YOIJ should make your
,. views known to the ASTM Committee on Standards, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428.
I"t
.(
193