VOLATILE MATTER IN FUELS. 
41 
volatile matter than the coarser samples, probably due to the more 
complete sintering together of the fine samples upon heating, with 
the consequent effect upon the giving off of the volatile matter. 
In order to find out how much effect different heat treatment has on 
different fuels, a series of .samples was selected ranging from anthra- 
cite to peat, most of the samples used in the tests having been pre- 
viously more or less completely air dried so as to permit of better 
handling in the laboratory. Determinations for volatile matter were 
made in duplicate by the regular official method and by the modified 
method with four minutes' preliminary heating. The proximate 
analyses of the samples with the volatile matter determined by the 
official method are shown in columns 1 to 5 of the next table; the 
results for volatile matter by the preliminary heating are given in 
column 6; and the differences in volatile matter by the two methods 
are given in column 7. The determinations for moisture were all 
made in accordance with the official method, by weighing out a sepa- 
rate sample. The same is true of the determinations for ash, with the 
exception that upon two or three of the lignite samples and one of the 
Pennsylvania samples the results for ash are those obtained after the 
determination of the volatile matter by the modified process. These 
particular samples and results are all specifically mentioned elsewhere 
(p. 42). 
Effect of different heat treatment on determination of volatile matter. 
Fuel treated. 
Colorado anthracite 
Arkansas 
Pennsylvania 
Do 
Kentucky 
Indiana 
Washington 
Indiana 
North Dakota lignite 
Illinois 
Texas lignite (fine) 
Texas lignite (40-mesh dupli 
cate) 
Texas lignite (not air dried). 
Massachusetts peat 
Proximate analysis (official method). 
Moisture, 
2.80 
.83 
.90 
1.05 
2.99 
4.20 
6.65 
8.40 
11.65 
12.40 
19.78 
19.35 
30. 45 
13. 25 
Volatile 
matter. 
5.05 
12. 47 
17.35 
33.10 
37.51 
37.70 
35.87 
34. 40 
45.58 
32. 18 
62.50 
42.07 
44.40 
49.80 
Fixed 
carbon. 
3. 
77. 55 
72. 05 
74.92 
53. 30 
56.68 
45.65 
14.57 
48.72 
32.97 
42. 82 
6.57 
27.38 
15.42 
16.21 
Ash. 
14.60 
14.65 
6.83 
12.55 
2.82 
12.45 
12. 91 
8.48 
9.80 
12. 60 
11.15 
11.20 
9.73 
20.74 
Sulphui 
0. 60 
2.14 
.97 
1.76 
.58 
4.13 
.68 
1.47 
1.04 
1.30 
1.03 
. ;>s 
Volatile 
matter 
(modified 
method.) 
4.90 
12.37 
16.07 
30.35 
34.78 
34.67 
34. 25 
32. 00 
40.17 
30.12 
a 35. 42 
35.72 
30.97 
47.92 
Dif- 
ference. 
0.15 
.10 
1.28 
2.75 
2.73 
3.03 
1.62 
2.40 
5.41 
2.06 
27.08 
6.35 
J3.43 
1.88 
«Two determinations upon the fine sample of Texas lignite made by heating for four minutes over 
a flame 5 centimeters high and then seven minutes over the full flame (25 cm.) gave 35.47 per cent 
volatile matter— almost an exact check upon the result obtained by the four-minute preliminary 
heating with a 10-centimeter flame regulated by holding burner in the hand. 
With the exception of the anthracite and semianthracite samples, 
the results by the preliminary heating, as compared with those by the 
official method, all show a considerably less amount of volatile matter 
and a correspondingly greater amount of fixed carbon. In the case 
of the lignites, the greater volatile matter by the official method, as 
has been shown, is partly due to mechanical losses. 
