Laboratory Services of CMPDIL is a center for excellence in resource quality evaluation, beneficiation and proper utilization of coal/lignite and minerals. Expert services are offered with highly skilled manpower and state-of-the-art equipments for characterisation of coal and lignite through chemical, petrographic and washability route supported by coal technologist for end use.  The quality and washability data generated during the last two decades formed the basis for deciding grade of coal in Geological Reports and Mine Feasibility Reports, Designing of Washeries, and further down stream utilization. To meet the relate industry's requirement, continuous R&D activities are carried out.

Chemical Laboratory

Chemical analysis of coal is essential for characterization, utilisation, commercial grading and marketing purposes. For utillisation of coal in different industries such as power, steel, cement, fertilizer, Railways, domestic consumption, brick kiln, textile, sugar, tea, glass, pottery, refractory, carbon industries and other chemical industries, characterization of coal is essential.

The Geo Chemical Laboratory has been accredited with NABL certification in accordance with the standard ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for its facilities at CMPDI (HQ) Ranchi in the field of “TESTING” in 12 different scopes. This NABL accreditation is valid for two years upto 02.01.2021.

National Accreditation Board for Laboratories (NABL) is only one of its kinds that assess laboratories in India for quality and consistency in the analysis results. This has imparted international recognition to Geo Chemical Laboratory of CMPDI(HQ), Ranchi for its quality and technical competence.

The Chemical Laboratory is equipped with conventional and sophisticated equipments and has upgraded itself with the induction of new equipment from time to time.

The broad activity of the chemical laboratory starts from collection of coal samples from different sources viz. coal core, ROM samples, channel samples etc. to analyzation of various parameters. The systematic characterization of coal at exploration stage is being carried out on routine basis for incorporation in Geological Reports.

The Chemical Lab is equipped with the following testing facilities for sample analysis:

• Coal core logging and sample preparation.
• Band by band analysis (Ash %+Moisture % determination)
• Proximate analysis (Ash %+ Moisture %+Volatile Matter %+Fixed Carbon % determination through conventional & Microprocessor based equipment)
• Determination of Gross Calorific Value (GCV(Kcal/kg))
• Ultimate analysis (Carbon %, Hydrogen %, Nitrogen %, Sulphur % & Oxygen %, determination)
• Moisture% at 60% Relative Humidity & 400 Centigrade
• Ash Fusion Temperature Range (Initial Deformation Temperature, Spherical Temperature, Hemi Spherical Temperature & Fluid Temperature).
• Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI)
• Free Swelling Index (FSI), Crucible Swelling Number (CSN)
• Low Temperature Gray King Coke Type (LTGKCT)
• Specific Gravity
• Plastometric test

Coal Petrography Laboratory

CMPDI's Coal Petrography Laboratory is one of the leading laboratories of India to undertake the characterization of coal / lignite, source rock evaluation for hydrocarbon generation at the exploration stage, washery product, and quality control of Indian/imported coal. Coal Petrography study is essentially microscopic study of coal (maceral composition, vitrinite reflectance & v type distribution) which plays an important role for blending of coal in coke making and charaterisation of coking and non-coking coal for its end use.

The Coal Petrography Laboratory from time to time has upgraded itself with the induction of state of art automatic equipment for rapid/detail determination of both organic and inorganic constituent of coal. It is only laboratory in India to achieve accreditation of ICCP (International Committee for Coal Petrography).

With its highly trained and dedicated manpower and sophisticated/imported equipment, the Laboratory is in a position to undertake following analysis:

• Coal characterization for coal exploration, washery product control, blend studies for coking as well as for non-coking coals
  
  
  • Maceral Analysis
  • Vitrinite Reflectance %
  • V Type Distribution
  • Minerals in Coal
  
  
• Coke Petrology
  
  
  • Pore Structure
  • Pore Size & Pore Size Distribution
  • Mosaic Size
  • Fracture Characteristics
  
  
• Oil and Gas Exploration
  
  
  • Vitrinite Reflectance
  • Maceral Analysis, Liptinite (Exinite) Fluorescence
  • Maturation Potential
  • Thermal History Studies
  
  
• Oil Shales
  
  
  • Maceral Analysis
  • Liptinite (Exinite) Fluorescence
  • Vitrinite Reflectance
  
  
• Mineralogical Phase Analysis
  
  
  • Qualitative and Quantitative Study of Minerals and Phases through X-Ray Diffractometer
  • Shape, size of Minerals in Coal/Metal/Rock and Cleat Study of Coal for CBM Exploration is being carried out by SEM

Coal Preparation Laboratory

The Coal Preparation Laboratory is one of the leading laboratory in the country for laboratory scale coal washability study and characterization of ROM coal, washery rejects bore hole samples. This Lab also undertakes comprehensive washability studies on coal samples as per the requirements of the client.

The basic services offered by the Laboratory are as follows :

• Sub Sampling and Sample Preparation
  
  • Crushing of ROM Coal to different sizes
  • Screening of Coal at various sizes
  • Pulverisation
  • Grinding by Ball Mill/Rod Mill
• Proximate Analysis
• Ultimate Analysis
• Calorific Value
• Determination of Sulphur
• Ash Fusion Temperature
• Determination of characteristics of Fine Coal
  
  • Froth Flotation
  • Filtration
  • Sedimentation
  • pH
  • Size Analysis by Weight Sieving

• Determination of Shattering, Pulverising & Abrasion Characteristics of Coal
  
  • Drop Shatter Test
  • Abrasion Test
  • Hardgrove Grindability Index
  • Typical Drum Tumbler Test

• Determination of Caking Characteristics of Coal
  
  • Caking Index
  • Swelling Index
  • Gray King Assay (L.T.) Coke Type

• Petrographic Analyses
  
  • Reflectance Measurement
  • Maceral Analysis
  • Analysis of Visible Minerals in Coal

Coal Bed Methane (CBM) Lab

• Gas Desorption Study
• Construction of Adsorption Isotherm
• Gas Composition Study
• Mobile Unit for collection of Coal Cores
  

Mine Laboratory Facilities

• Uniaxial Compressive Strength
• Tensile Strength
• Shear Strength
• Young's Modulus and Poisson's Ratio
• Bulk Density
• Protodyakonov Index, Impact Strength Index, Point Load Index and Cone Indenter Index
• Triaxial Compressive Strength, Cohesion and Angle of Internal Friction
• Slake Durability Index
• Cerchar Index of Abrasivity

Survey & Geomatics Laboratory

• Microptic Theodolite with EDM
• North seeking GYRO with Theodolite
• Total Workstation
• GPS and GIS
• Daedalus AADS 1268 ATM Scanner

Exploration Laboratory

• Geophysical Loggers
• Seismographs
• Gravimeters & Magnetometers
• Drilling Rigs (Rotary, DTH, Coring)
• Resistivity Meters, etc.
• Borehole Deviation Unit
• Aquifer Testing Equipment

Other Laboratory Facilities

• Non-destructive testing of Mine Winders, Cage Suspension Gears, Heavy Earth Moving Machines
• Development & repair of Electronic Control Cards for HEMM, Washery equipment etc.
• Coal/Coke Utilisation Studies