Coal and Fly Ash Analysis

At the SEMTech Solutions environmental imaging lab we analyze coal ash, fly ash and wood ash from soil samples, and the siding of homes. In the past when coal or wood was used to heat homes and businesses, a large amount was typically dumped nearby. By using various microscopic techniques, we can positively identify the presence of coal, coal ash, wood ash, fly ash, asphalt and other materials so that we can differentiate between hazardous and non-hazardous sites. Numerous state and federal regulations allow for exemptions when coal, fly, or wood ash are present in the soil and the techniques we use in the lab provides the information needed to make a determination. The instruments we use in our laboratory consist of stereo microscopes, Polarized Light Microscope (PLM), Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM), and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS).