ASTM D3176-24

Standard Practice for Ultimate Analysis of Coal and Coke

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Summarizing the ash mass fraction and the mass fraction of the organic constituents in a specific format under the heading, Ultimate Analysis, provides a convenient and uniform system for comparing coals or cokes. This tabulation used with that of Proximate Analysis  (Practice D3172) permits cursory valuation of coals for use as fuel or in other carbonaceous processes and of cokes for metallurgical purpose.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the term ultimate analysis as it is applied to the analysis of coal and coke. The information derived is intended for the general utilization by applicable industries, to provide the basis for evaluation, beneficiation, or for other purposes.  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses after SI units are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.2.1 All percentages are percent mass fractions.  
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2024
• ICS: 75.160.10 - Solid fuels
• Technical Committee: D05 - Coal and Coke
• Drafting Committee: D05.21 - Methods of Analysis

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D3176-15(2023) - Standard Practice for Ultimate Analysis of Coal and Coke
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2024
• Refers: ASTM D7582-15(2023) - Standard Test Methods for Proximate Analysis of Coal and Coke by Macro Thermogravimetric Analysis
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2023
• Referred By: ASTM D7582-24 - Standard Test Methods for Proximate Analysis of Coal and Coke by Macro Thermogravimetric Analysis
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2024
• Referred By: ASTM D7569/D7569M-24 - Standard Practice for Determination of Gas in Coal-Direct Desorption Method
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2024
• Referred By: ASTM D1762-84(2021) - Standard Test Method for Chemical Analysis of Wood Charcoal
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2024
• Referred By: ASTM D5373-21 - Standard Test Methods for Determination of Carbon, Hydrogen and Nitrogen in Analysis Samples of Coal and Carbon in Analysis Samples of Coal and Coke
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2024
• Referred By: ASTM D6700-19 - Standard Guide for Use of Scrap Tires as Tire-Derived Fuel
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2024
• Referred By: ASTM D121-15(2024) - Standard Terminology of Coal and Coke
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2024
• Referred By: ASTM D4239-18e1 - Standard Test Method for Sulfur in the Analysis Sample of Coal and Coke Using High-Temperature Tube Furnace Combustion
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2024
• Referred By: ASTM D3174-12(2018)e1 - Standard Test Method for Ash in the Analysis Sample of Coal and Coke from Coal
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2024
• Referred By: ASTM E2779-10(2017) - Standard Test Method for Determining Particulate Matter Emissions from Pellet Heaters
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2024

Overview

ASTM D3176-24: Standard Practice for Ultimate Analysis of Coal and Coke provides a consistent framework for determining and reporting the elemental composition of coal and coke samples. Developed by ASTM International, this standard practice is essential for industries utilizing coal and coke as fuel, in metallurgical processes, or for further carbonaceous applications. The ultimate analysis details the mass fractions of key organic and inorganic constituents in a specific format, supporting direct comparison and evaluation of different coal or coke sources.

Key Topics

• Ultimate Analysis Definition: Refers to quantifying the proportions of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, ash, and oxygen in coal and coke.
• Moisture Content: Although not part of the ultimate analysis by definition, moisture determination is crucial for data conversion and accurate interpretation of results.
• Standardized Procedures: Outlines approved practices for sample collection, preparation, and the use of referenced ASTM methods for determining each component.
• Uniform Reporting: Requires reporting results on standardized bases (such as dry or as-received), with explicit treatment of moisture to ensure clarity and comparability.
• Data Calculation: Includes calculation methods for deriving oxygen content by subtraction and converting between different reporting bases.
• Quality Assurance: Emphasizes the importance of using SI units and requires adherence to relevant safety, health, and environmental practices.

Applications

ASTM D3176-24 serves a broad range of practical applications across industries that rely on coal and coke, such as:

• Power Generation: Facilitates rapid assessment of coal quality for fuel selection, efficiency evaluation, and emissions calculation in thermal power plants.
• Metallurgical Industries: Enables comparison and selection of coke for blast furnace operations, based on its elemental composition and ironmaking suitability.
• Materials Evaluation: Supports beneficiation decisions by offering a standardized approach to analyze the organic and inorganic constituents of raw coal or coke.
• Regulatory Compliance: Provides a recognized reference for reporting and verifying coal and coke properties in accordance with international trade and environmental regulations.
• Laboratory Analysis: Offers a consistent template for reporting ultimate analysis outcomes, assisting laboratories in maintaining data integrity and comparability.
• Research and Development: Aids in the characterization and improvement of new carbonaceous materials or processes by providing a baseline for ultimate analysis data.

Related Standards

To ensure comprehensive assessment and data quality, ASTM D3176-24 references and complements several related ASTM standards, including:

• ASTM D3172: Practice for Proximate Analysis of Coal and Coke
• ASTM D346: Practice for Collection and Preparation of Coke Samples for Laboratory Analysis
• ASTM D2013: Practice for Preparing Coal Samples for Analysis
• ASTM D2234/D2234M: Practice for Collection of a Gross Sample of Coal
• ASTM D3173: Test Method for Moisture in the Analysis Sample of Coal and Coke
• ASTM D3174: Test Method for Ash in the Analysis Sample of Coal and Coke
• ASTM D3302: Test Method for Total Moisture in Coal
• ASTM D4239: Test Method for Sulfur in the Analysis Sample of Coal and Coke
• ASTM D5373: Test Methods for Determination of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Nitrogen in Analysis Samples
• ASTM D7430: Practice for Mechanical Sampling of Coal
• ASTM D7582: Test Methods for Proximate Analysis of Coal and Coke by Macro Thermogravimetric Analysis

Practical Value

By following ASTM D3176-24, organizations benefit from:

• Greater confidence in coal and coke comparisons
• Reliable reporting for procurement, sales, and regulatory needs
• Streamlined laboratory workflows and consistent data quality
• Enhanced compatibility with international trade and environmental standards

Keywords: ASTM D3176, ultimate analysis, coal, coke, elemental analysis, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, ash, oxygen, coal testing standard, ASTM coal standards, sample preparation.

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D3176 − 24
Standard Practice for
Ultimate Analysis of Coal and Coke
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3176; 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 D3174 Test Method for Ash in the Analysis Sample of Coal
and Coke from Coal
1.1 This practice covers the term ultimate analysis as it is
D3302 Test Method for Total Moisture in Coal
applied to the analysis of coal and coke. The information
D4239 Test Method for Sulfur in the Analysis Sample of
derived is intended for the general utilization by applicable
Coal and Coke Using High-Temperature Tube Furnace
industries, to provide the basis for evaluation, beneficiation, or
Combustion
for other purposes.
D4596 Practice for Collection of Channel Samples of Coal
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
in a Mine
standard. The values given in parentheses after SI units are
D5192 Practice for Collection of Coal Samples from Core
provided for information only and are not considered standard.
D5373 Test Methods for Determination of Carbon, Hydro-
1.2.1 All percentages are percent mass fractions.
gen and Nitrogen in Analysis Samples of Coal and Carbon
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the in Analysis Samples of Coal and Coke
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
D6609 Guide for Part-Stream Sampling of Coal
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- D6883 Practice for Manual Sampling of Stationary Coal
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
from Railroad Cars, Barges, Trucks, or Stockpiles
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. D7430 Practice for Mechanical Sampling of Coal
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
D7582 Test Methods for Proximate Analysis of Coal and
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- Coke by Macro Thermogravimetric Analysis
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
3. Terminology
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
3.1 Definitions:
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
3.1.1 ultimate analysis—in the case of coal and coke, the
determination of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulfur in the
2. Referenced Documents
material, as found in the gaseous products of its complete
2.1 ASTM Standards:
combustion, the determination of ash in the material as a
D346 Practice for Collection and Preparation of Coke
whole, and the calculation of oxygen by difference.
Samples for Laboratory Analysis
NOTE 1—Moisture is not by definition a part of the ultimate analysis of
D2013 Practice for Preparing Coal Samples for Analysis
coal or coke but must be determined in order that analytical data may be
D2234/D2234M Practice for Collection of a Gross Sample
converted to bases other than that of the analysis sample.
of Coal
NOTE 2—Inasmuch as some coals contain mineral carbonates, and
D3172 Practice for Proximate Analysis of Coal and Coke
practically all contain clay or shale containing combined water, a part of
D3173 Test Method for Moisture in the Analysis Sample of the carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen found in the products of combustion
may arise from these mineral components.
Coal and Coke
4. Significance and Use
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D05 on Coal and
Coke and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D05.21 on Methods of
4.1 Summarizing the ash mass fraction and the mass frac-
Analysis.
tion of the organic constituents in a specific format under the
Current edition approved April 1, 2024. Published April 2024. Originally
heading, Ultimate Analysis, provides a convenient and uniform
approved in 1974. Last previous edition approved in 2023 as D3176 – 15 (2023).
DOI: 10.1520/D3176-24.
system for comparing coals or cokes. This tabulation used with
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
that of Proximate Analysis (Practice D3172) permits cursory
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
valuation of coals for use as fuel or in other carbonaceous
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. processes and of cokes for metallurgical purpose.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D3176 − 24
5. General Requirements ated with the analysis sample. However, hydrogen and oxygen
values reported on other moisture-containing bases may be
5.1 Coal sample collection shall be in accordance with any
reported either as containing or as not containing the hydrogen
of the following Guides or Practices as appropriate: D7430,
and oxygen in water (moisture) reported on that basis. Alter-
D2234/D2234M, D6609, D4596, D5192, and D6883.
native conversion procedures are shown in Table 1.
5.2 For coal, sample preparations shall be in accordance
7.5 An example of ultimate analysis data tabulated for a
with Practices D2013 or D7430. The analysis sample shall be
hypothetical coal on various bases is given in Table 2.
the material pulverized to pass a 250 μm (No. 60 US standard
mesh) sieve in accordance with Practice D2013.
5.3 Coke sampling and preparation shall be in accordance
with Practice D346.
6. Specific Requirements
6.1 Carbon, Hydrogen, and Nitrogen—The carbon,
hydrogen, and nitrogen determination shall be made in accor-
dance with Test Method D5373.
6.2 Sulfur—The sulfur determination shall be made in
accordance with Test Methods D4239.
6.3 Ash—The ash determination shall be made in accor-
dance with Test Methods D3174 or D7582.
6.4 Oxygen—There being no satisfactory direct ASTM test
method for determining oxygen, it shall be calculated by
subtracting from 100 % the sum of the percentages of other
components of the ultimate analysis. The result so obtained is
affected by errors incurred in the other determinations of the
ultimate analysis and also by the changes in mass of the
ash-forming constituents on ignition. By definit
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D3176 − 15 (Reapproved 2023) D3176 − 24
Standard Practice for
Ultimate Analysis of Coal and Coke
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3176; 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 practice covers the term ultimate analysis as it is applied to the analysis of coal and coke. The information derived is
intended for the general utilization by applicable industries, to provide the basis for evaluation, beneficiation, or for other purposes.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this The values
given in parentheses after SI units are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.2.1 All percentages are percent mass fractions.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D346 Practice for Collection and Preparation of Coke Samples for Laboratory Analysis
D2013 Practice for Preparing Coal Samples for Analysis
D2234/D2234M Practice for Collection of a Gross Sample of Coal
D3172 Practice for Proximate Analysis of Coal and Coke
D3173 Test Method for Moisture in the Analysis Sample of Coal and Coke
D3174 Test Method for Ash in the Analysis Sample of Coal and Coke from Coal
D3302 Test Method for Total Moisture in Coal
D4239 Test Method for Sulfur in the Analysis Sample of Coal and Coke Using High-Temperature Tube Furnace Combustion
D4596 Practice for Collection of Channel Samples of Coal in a Mine
D5192 Practice for Collection of Coal Samples from Core
D5373 Test Methods for Determination of Carbon, Hydrogen and Nitrogen in Analysis Samples of Coal and Carbon in Analysis
Samples of Coal and Coke
D6609 Guide for Part-Stream Sampling of Coal
D6883 Practice for Manual Sampling of Stationary Coal from Railroad Cars, Barges, Trucks, or Stockpiles
D7430 Practice for Mechanical Sampling of Coal
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D05 on Coal and Coke and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D05.21 on Methods of Analysis.
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2023April 1, 2024. Published December 2023April 2024. Originally approved in 1974. Last previous edition approved in 20152023 as
D3176 – 15.D3176 – 15 (2023). DOI: 10.1520/D3176-15R23.10.1520/D3176-24.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D3176 − 24
D7582 Test Methods for Proximate Analysis of Coal and Coke by Macro Thermogravimetric Analysis
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 ultimate analysis—in the case of coal and coke, the determination of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulfur in the material,
as found in the gaseous products of its complete combustion, the determination of ash in the material as a whole, and the
calculation of oxygen by difference.
NOTE 1—Moisture is not by definition a part of the ultimate analysis of coal or coke but must be determined in order that analytical data may be converted
to bases other than that of the analysis sample.
NOTE 2—Inasmuch as some coals contain mineral carbonates, and practically all contain clay or shale containing combined water, a part of the carbon,
hydrogen, and oxygen found in the products of combustion may arise from these mineral components.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 Summarizing the ash content mass fraction and the content mass fraction of the organic constituents in a specific format under
the heading, Ultimate Analysis, provides a convenient and uniform system for comparing coals or cokes. This tabulation used with
that of Proximate Analysis (Practice D3172) permits cursory valuation of coals for use as fuel or in other carbonaceous processes
and of cokes for metallurgical purpose.
5. General Requirements
5.1 Coal sample collection shall be in accordance with any of the following Guides or Practices as appropriate: D7430,
D2234/D2234M, D6609, D4596, D5192, and D6883.
5.2 For coal, sample preparations shall be in accordance with Practices D2013 or D7430. The analysis sample shall be the material
pulverized to pass a 250 μm (No. 60) 60 US standard mesh) sieve in accordance with Practice D2013.
5.3 Coke sampling and preparation shall be in accordance with Practice D346.
6. Specific Requirements
6.1 Carbon, Hydrogen, and Nitrogen—The carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen determination shall be made in accordance with Test
Method D5373.
6.2 Sulfur—The sulfur determination shall be made in accordance with Test Methods D4239.
6.3 Ash—The ash determination shall be made in accordance with Test Methods D3174 or D7582.
6.4 Oxygen—There being no satisfactory direct ASTM test method for determining oxygen, it shall be calculated by subtracting
from 100100 % the sum of the percentages of other components of the ultimate analysis. The result so obtained is affected by errors
incurred in the other determinations of the ultimate analysis and also by the changes in weightmass of the ash-forming constituents
on ignition. By definition, oxygen calculated as a weight mass fraction percentage of the analysis sample according to this
procedure does not include oxygen in the mineral matter or in the ash, but does include oxygen in the free water (moisture)
associated with the analysis sample. See Section 7 of this practice for calculating and reporting results on other bases.
6.5 Moisture—The moisture determination shall be made in accordance with Test MethodsMethod D3173 or D7582.
6.6 The air-dry loss or total moisture determination shall be made in accordance with Practice D3302.
7. Calculation and Report
7.1 The results of an ultimate analysis may be reported on any of a number of bases, differing from each other in the manner by
which moisture is treated.
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