Chemometric studies on relationship between trace elements and three species of sulfur in coal

Based on the determination of several trace elements in coal particulate with different specific gravities using three-variable regression equations, the correlation of the contents of trace elements Be, Cd, Co, Pb, Cu, Ni, As and three species of sulfur in coal were well established. For elements Cd, Co, Pb, Cu and Ni, the regression equations were successfully used for prediction of these trace elements in individual parts of coal with different specific gravities. Factor analysis was also used to analyze the data sets. The results showed that a three-factor model can interpret the data sets reasonably. Trace elements Cd, Co, Pb, Cu, Ni, inorganic sulfide and total sulfur (TS) in coal are highly correlated with the first factor. Trace element Be, sulfate and organic sulfide (OS) are highly correlated with the second factor and trace elements Cr and As are highly correlated with the third factor. The factors can be interpreted by the chemical properties of these elements.