What is the Difference Between Proximate and Ultimate Analysis?

The key difference between proximate and ultimate analysis lies in the information they provide about a substance, such as coal or biofuel.

Proximate analysis focuses on determining the different compounds present in a mixture, such as moisture, ash, volatile matter, and fixed carbon content. This analysis technique is commonly used in the coal and coke industry. Proximate analysis gives results that are expressed as percentages with respect to the total mass of the sample.

Ultimate analysis, on the other hand, involves determining the number and types of different chemical elements present in a compound, such as carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen. Ultimate analysis provides more comprehensive results compared to proximate analysis. This technique is often used to analyze the elemental composition of coal ash and other substances.

In summary, proximate analysis deals with the determination of different compounds present in a mixture, while ultimate analysis focuses on the identification and quantification of the chemical elements present in a compound.

Comparative Table: Proximate vs Ultimate Analysis

The main difference between proximate and ultimate analysis lies in the properties and elements they analyze. Here is a table comparing the two types of analysis:

In summary, proximate analysis focuses on the physical and chemical properties of coal, particularly the presence of different compounds and their amounts, while ultimate analysis delves into the elemental composition of coal.