ISO 562:2024

International
Standard
ISO 562
Fourth edition
Hard coal and coke —
2024-08
Determination of volatile matter
Houille et coke — Détermination des matières volatiles
Reference number
© ISO 2024
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ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Principle . 1
5 Reagents and materials . 1
6 Apparatus . 1
7 Preparation of the test sample. 6
8 Procedure . 6
8.1 General .6
8.2 Furnace temperature checking.6
8.3 Volatile matter determination .6
9 Expression of results . 7
10 Precision . 7
10.1 Repeatability limit .7
10.2 Reproducibility limit .7
11 Test report . 8
Bibliography . 9

iii
Foreword
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This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 27, Coal and coke, Subcommittee SC 5, Methods
of analysis.
This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition (ISO 562:2010), which has been technically revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— title and references changed to be consistent with the new name of ISO/TC 27;
— editorial updates to be in line with ISO 80000-1.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

iv
Introduction
In this document, volatile matter is determined as the loss in mass, less that due to moisture, when coal
or coke is heated out of contact with air under standardized conditions. The test is empirical and, in order
to ensure reproducible results, it is essential that the conditions specified in this document are strictly
followed. The moisture of the sample is determined at the same time as the volatile matter so that the
appropriate correction can be made.
Mineral matter associated with the sample can also lose mass under the conditions of the test specified in
this document. The magnitude of the loss is dependent on both the nature and the quantity of the minerals
present.
The apparatus and procedure are specified so that one or more determinations can be performed
simultaneously in the furnace.

v
International Standard ISO 562:2024(en)
Hard coal and coke — Determination of volatile matter
1 Scope
This document specifies a method of determining the volatile matter of hard coal and of coke. It is not
applicable to brown coals and lignites.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 687, Coke — Determination of moisture in the general analysis test sample
ISO 1213-2, Solid mineral fuels — Vocabulary — Part 2: Terms relating to sampling, testing and analysis
ISO 11722, Solid mineral fuels — Hard coal — Determination of moisture in the general analysis test sample by
drying in nitrogen
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 1213-2 apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
4 Principle
A portion of the sample is heated out of contact with air at 900 °C for 7 min. The mass fraction of volatile
matter, expressed as a percentage, is calculated from the loss in mass of the test portion after deducting the
loss in mass due to moisture.
5 Reagents and materials
5.1 Cyclohexane, of recognized analytical grade.
6 Apparatus
6.1 Furnace, heated by electricity, in which a zone of uniform temperature of 900 °C ± 5 °C can be
maintained.
The furnace may be of the stop-ended type or fitted at the back with a flue approximately 25 mm in diameter
and 150 mm long (see Figure 1).
For furnaces with flues, the furnace door shall seal well. The flue should not reach far out of the oven and
should be fitted with a butterfly valve to restrict airflow through the furnace.

The heat capacity of the furnace shall be such that, with an initial temperature of 900 °C, the temperature is
recovered within 4 min after insertion of a cold stand and its crucibles. The temperature is measured with a
thermocouple (6.2).
Normally, the furnace is designed specifically either for multiple determinations using a number of crucibles
in one stand or for receiving one crucible and its stand. In the first case, the (rectangular) zone of uniform
temperature shall be at least 160 mm × 100 mm; in the latter case, a (circular) zone with a diameter of
40 mm is sufficient.
A position for the crucible stand shall be chosen within the zone of uniform temperature and this position
shall be used for all determinations. The temperature of 900 °C shall be attained as closely as possible with
a tolerance of ±5 °C in order to compensate for inherent errors in the temperature measurement and lack of
uniformity in the temperature distribution.
6.2 Thermocouple, unsheathed, of wire no thicker than 1 mm.
When inserted through the front or rear of the furnace, the thermocouple should be long enough to reach the
centre of the underside of each crucible when placed in the zone of uniform temperature. The thermojunction
shall be placed midway between the base of the crucible in its stand and the floor of the furnace. If the stand
holds more than one crucible, the temperature under each crucible shall be checked in the same manner.
A sheathed thermocouple may be permanently installed in the furnace (see Figure 1) with its thermojunction
as close as possible to the centre of the zone of uniform temperature. In this case, furnace temperature
readings shall be correlated at frequent intervals with those of the unsheathed thermocouple, which is thus
inserted only when necessary. The thermocouple readings should be checked at regular intervals, e.g. on a
monthly basis.
NOTE The temperature/electromotive force relationship of a thermojunction maintained at elevated
temperatures gradually changes with time.
6.3 Crucible, cylindrical, with a well-fitting lid, both of fused silica.
The crucible with lid shall have a mass between 10 g and 14 g and dimensions approximating those shown
in Figure 2. The fit of the lid on the crucible is critical to the determination. A lid shall be selected to match
the crucible so that the horizontal clearance between them is no greater than 0,5 mm. The selected crucible
and lid shall be ground together to give smooth surfaces and then be given a common distinguishing mark.
When performing multiple determinations on highly swelling coals, taller crucibles may be used. These
may be up to 45 mm in height without affecting the determined volatile matter, provided that the rate of
temperature recovery specified in 6.1 be maintained.
6.4 Crucible stand, on which the crucible is placed in the furnace, such that the appropriate rate of heating
can be achieved.
For example, it may consist of the following:
a) for single determinations, a ring of heat-resistant steel wire with ceramic discs, 25 mm in diameter and
2 mm thick, resting on the inner projection of its legs [see Figure 3 a)];
b) for multiple determinations, a tray of heat-resistant steel wire, of appropriate size, with ceramic plates
2 mm thick supporting the crucibles [see Figure 3 b)].
6.5 Analytical balance, capable of reading to the nearest 0,1 mg.

Dimensions in millimetres
Key
1 zone of uniform temperature
2 check thermocouple
3 chamber (width 200 mm)
...