ICS 73.

040

D 21

NATIONAL STANDARD
OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
中华人民共和国国家标准
GB/T 2566-2010

Replace GB/T 2566-1995

Determination of Transmittance for Low

Rank Coal

低煤阶煤的透光率测定方法

Issued on: September 26, 2010 Implemented on: February 1, 2011

Jointly issued by the General Administration of Quality Supervision,

Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of
China and the Standardization Administration of the
People's Republic of China
 Foreword

This standard replaces "Determination of Transmittance for Low Rank Coal" (GB / T
2566-1995).
Compared with GB / T 2566 1995, this standard has been modified mainly on the
following aspects:
- The compiling format of this standard is modified correspondingly according to the
requirements of GB / T 1.1.
- Relevant chapters and sections of this standard are rearranged;
- Table A.2 in Appendix A is added;
- The repeatability and reproducibility values in different transmittance ranges are
adjusted (see Chapter 7).
Appendix A and B of this standard are informative.
This standard was proposed by the China National Coal Association.
This national standard is under the jurisdiction of National Technical Committee on Coal
Chemical Industry of Standardization Administration of China.
Drafting organizations of this standard: Beijing Research Institute of Coal Chemistry of
CCRI, Hebei Coal Geological Research Institute.
Chief drafting staffs of this standard: Liu Shuyun, Song Shuanchen, Luo Yunfei and
Zhang Lusuo
The previous editions replaced by this standard are as:
-GB 2566-1981;
-GB/T 2566-1995.
 Contents

1 Scope ................................................................................................................................... 1
2 Methods and Principles ....................................................................................................... 1
3 Reagents and Materials........................................................................................................ 1
4 Apparatus and Equipment ................................................................................................... 2
5 Determination Procedures ................................................................................................... 2
6 Expression of Determination Result.................................................................................... 3
7 Precision .............................................................................................................................. 3
Appendix A (Informative) Standard Series of Potassium Bichromate Solution..................... 5
Appendix B (Informative) Original Records of Transmittance Determination...................... 8
 Determination of Transmittance for Low Rank Coal
低煤阶煤的透光率测定方法

1 Scope

This standard specifies the reagents and materials, apparatus and equipment used for
determining the transmittance of low rank coal as well as the determination procedures and
the expression and precision of determination result.
This standard is applicable to lignite and low coal rank bitumite.

2 Methods and Principles

The low rank coal will react with the mixed acid of nitric acid and phosphoric acid at
certain test conditions and generate colored solution. Taking potassium bichromate solutions
in sulfuric acid of different concentrations as standard, the transmittance of coal sample is
determined by visual colorimetry according to the color of the solution.

3 Reagents and Materials

3.1 10% sulfuric acid (GB / T 625, chemically pure) solution (volume fraction).
3.2 Potassium bichromate (GB / T 642, analytically pure): it shall be dried for 2h at 110℃
~120℃ before use.
3.3 (1+9) phosphoric acid (GB / T 1282, chemically pure) solution (volume fraction).
3.4 Nitric acid (GB / T 626, chemically pure): the nitric acid in a color of yellow shall not
be used.
3.5 Mixed acid: prepared by mixing nitric acid, phosphoric acid and distilled water in a
volume ration of 1:1:9.
3.6 Primary potassium bichromate solution
3.6.1 Weigh 2.5000g (accurate to 0.0002g) potassium bichromate powders (3.2) in a
volumetric flask and add in 10% sulfuric acid solution (3.1) to prepare into 250mL solution.
This solution will be used as the standard series of solution for preparing the potassium
bichromate solution with a transmittance at 30%~100%.
3.6.2 Weigh 5.0000g (accurate to 0.0002g) potassium bichromate powders (3.2) in a
volumetric flask and add in 10% sulfuric acid solution (3.1) to prepare into 250mL solution.
This solution will be used as the standard series of solution for preparing the potassium
bichromate solution with a transmittance less than 30%.
3.7 Standard series of potassium bichromate solution
Pipet primary solutions in required volume with 1mL, 2mL, 5mL or 10mL graduated
straight pipette (or micro-buret) from the primary potassium bichromate solution (3.6.1 and

1
3.6.2) and place them into 50mL volumetric flask, and then dilute the solution with 10%
sulfuric acid solution (3.1) to the scale to prepare to the standard series of solution and shake
well for use. The corresponding relationship between the concentration of prepared standard
solution and the required primary potassium bichromate solution is provided in Appendix A.
Rinse the dry colorimetric tube (4.2) with a small amount of prepared standard series of
solution and then pour the solution into the colorimetric tube until it reaches the 10mL scale
division place (the elevation of the liquid column of the colorimetric tubes shall be the same).
In general, the standard series of solution may be used for 2~3 months. In the
colorimetric analysis, if the temperature changes more than 10 ℃ than that when preparing
the standard series of solution, the solution shall be re-prepared.
3.8 Qualitative filter paper: dense.

4 Apparatus and Equipment

4.1 Analytical balance: with a sensibility of 0.0002g.

4.2 Colorimetric tube: 25mL; the inner diameter is 17mm ±0.5mm and has scale division at
10mL place. It is provided with a tight plug.
4.3 Water bath: it is able to heat to 100℃.
4.4 Mercury thermometer: with a measuring range of 0℃ ~100℃ and the scale division is
less than 0.2℃. It shall be used after calibration.
4.5 Volumetric flask: 100mL; Erlenmeyer flask: 100mL; pipette: 25mL.
For some samples which easily generate air bubbles and then loose pulverized coal
during heating, tailored volumetric flask with a long neck should be adopted, and the size
shall be as follows: the inner diameter of the mouth is 15mm±1mm and the distance from the
scale mark to the mouth is 135 mm± 5mm. A wafer, such as rubber etc. should be put on the
bottom of the volumetric flask (the wafer shall be slightly larger than the heating mouth of the
water bath and with an opening in the center).
4.6 Small glass hopper: the inner diameter of the hopper opening is 30mm, the hopper
handle is about 40mm long and the inner diameter is 4mm~5mm.

5 Determination Procedures

5.1 Weigh the coal samples for analytical test (raw coal samples or float coal samples with
ash content Ad ≤10%; raw coal samples may be used for lignite which is liable to argillation)
in the amount equivalent to 1.0000g (accurate to 0.0002g) dry ash-free coal in dry
100mL-volumetric flask.
5.2 Where the temperature of the water bath is heated to 99.5℃ ± 0.5 ℃ (in plateau area,
a given amount of glycerol may be added in the water to keep the temperature of the water
bath at 99.5℃ ± 0.5 ℃), pipet 25mL mixed acid (3.5) into the volumetric flask and shake the
volumetric flask while adding the acid to soak the coal samples. After adding the mixed acid
(3.5), immediately place the volumetric flask into the water bath and inset the small hopper
(4.6) in the bottle mouth. The temperature of the water bath shall be returned to 99.5 ℃ ±

2
0.5 ℃ within 5min.
5.3 After heating for 90min, take the volumetric flask out of the water bath and cool it to
room temperature rapidly. Rinse the small hopper and the volumetric flask neck with (1+9)
phosphoric acid (3.3) and then re-add (1+9) phosphoric acid (3.3) into the volumetric flask to
the scale division; insert the plug and shake it well.
5.4 Keep the volumetric flask still for 15min~30min and then filter the solution with dry
hopper and dense qualitative filter paper. Filter the filtrate into a dry 100mL Erlenmeyer flask
(notice shall be paid to avoid extreme fine pulverized coal passing the filter; otherwise, it
shall be filtered again), discard the small amount of initial filtrate. The residue shall be
discarded after filtering. The transmittance of the filtrate shall be determined by visual
colorimetry on the very day.
5.5 Colorimetric analysis shall be carried out according to the following operation
procedures:
- Firstly, rinse 25mL dry colorimetric tube (4.2) with a small amount of filtrate (5.4) and
pour the filtrate into the colorimetric tube to 10mL scale division (the elevation of the liquid
column shall be adjusted to the same with that of the standard series of potassium bichromate
solution) and then carry out the visual colorimetry with the standard series of solution.
- Colorimetric analysis shall be carried out at bright natural light but shall be avoided
from direct sunlight. During the colorimetric analysis, 2~3 pieces of pure white filter paper
shall be placed under the colorimetric tube, but the filter paper shall keep a distance of about
30mm to the colorimetric tube. During the colorimetric analysis, the operator shall look
downward vertically from the upside of the colorimetric tube mouth and the position of the
standard series of solution and the coal sample filtrate shall be exchanged repeatedly to get
the correct judgment of the result. When the color of the coal sample filtrate is between the
colors of two adjacent standard series of solutions, or equivalent to that of a certain standard
series of solution, the transmittance of the coal sample may be derived. For the coal sample
with an extreme low transmittance, its transmittance may be determined according to the
brightness of the solution due to the color melody of the standard series of solution and the
coal sample solution is quite different.

6 Expression of Determination Result

The determination result of transmittance (PM) may be read to 1%; for the coal sample
with a PM less than 16%, the result may be reported as less than 16%.
The report examples for original record of transmittance determination are provided in
Appendix B.

7 Precision

The precision of transmittance (PM) determination shall meet the requirements specified
in Table 1.
Table 1 Precision of Transmittance Determination %

3
Transmittance PM Repeatability limit Critical difference of reproducibility

≥28~56 2.0 4.0

<28 or ≥56 3.0 5.0

4
 Appendix A

(Informative)

Standard Series of Potassium Bichromate Solution

The corresponding relationship between the standard solution concentration and the
required primary potassium bichromate solution (3.6.1 and 3.6.2) volume when preparing
50mL standard series of potassium bichromate solution is provided in Appendix A.
Standard series of potassium bichromate solution may be prepared in accordance with
those specified in Table A.1 and A.2 according to the requirements of the actual work.
Table A.1 Standard Series of Potassium Bichromate Solution
Standard series Transmittance PM/% The required volume of primary potassium bichromate solution when preparing
into 50mL standard series of solution /mL

1 100 0.00

2 98 0.05

3 96 0.11

4 94 0.15

5 92 0.23

6 90 0.29
a
7 88 0.38

8 86 0.44
a
9 84 0.48

10 82 0.55
a
11 81 0.59

12 80 0.63

13 79 0.67

14 78 0.71

15 77 0.75
a
16 76 0.79

17 75 0.84

18 74 0.90

19 73 0.98

20 72 1.05

21 71 1.13

22 70 a 1.20

23 69 1.28

24 68 1.35

25 67 1.47

26 66 a 1.60

27 65 1.68

28 64 1.75

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 29 63 1.87

30 62 2.00
a
31 61 2.15

32 60 2.30

33 59 2.45

34 58 2.60

35 57 2.80

36 56 3.00

37 55 3.15

38 54 3.45

39 53 3.62

40 52 3.80

41 51 4.05

42 50 4.30

43 49 4.50
a
44 48 4.70

45 47 5.10

46 46 5.50

47 45 6.05

48 44 6.60

49 43 7.15

50 42 7.75

51 41 8.15

52 40 8.55

53 39 9.25

54 38 9.90

55 37 10.70

56 36 11.50

57 35 12.50

58 34 13.60

59 33 17.50

60 32 21.70

61 31 26.00
a
62 30 30.00

63 28 19.30

64 26 23.60

65 24 28.20

66 22 32.80

67 20 37.50

68 18 42.40

69 16 47.50
a
It represents the standard point of standard series of solution determined directly by repeated comparison of coal sample; other

6
points are derived according to the working curve or its extended line drawn according to standard points.

Table A.2 Standard Series of Potassium Bichromate Solution (Abridged Table)

Standard series Transmittance PM/% The required volume of primary potassium bichromate
solution when preparing into 50mL standard series of
solution / mL

1 92 0.23

2 88 0.38

3 84 0.48

4 80 0.63

5 76 0.79

6 72 1.05

7 68 1.35

8 64 1.75

9 60 2.30

10 56 3.00

11 52 3.80

12 50 4.30

13 48 4.70

14 46 5.50

15 44 6.60

16 42 7.75

17 40 8.55

18 38 9.90

19 36 11.50

20 34 13.60

21 32 21.70

22 30 30.00

23 28 19.30

24 24 28.20

25 20 37.50

26 16 47.50

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 Appendix B

(Informative)

Original Records of Transmittance Determination

The original records of transmittance determination are detailed in Table B.1.

Table B.1 Original Records of Transmittance Determination
Coal No.
sample Moisture Mad/%

Ash content Aad/%

Quality weighed out /g

No. of volumetric flask

No. of Erlenmeyer flask

No. of colorimetric tube

PM/%

Mean PM/%

Recheck: Determination: Date: