A study has been conducted to identify nonstandard and novel instrumental analysis techniques and to evaluate their potential for development to provide new types of sensors for on-line analysis of coal and for other fossil energy applications. New methods from basic research, and methods used or considered for use in other industries such as mineral and basic metal industries, in petroleum and other well logging, and in biomedical applications have been examined. Particular fossil energy applications have been identified, and equipment requirements and spoolpiece and window requirements for process stream measurements, development status, obstacles to be overcome in development, and other relevant topics have been investigated. Over 60 distinct nuclear techniques (or variations on techniques) have been identified, most of which can be used to determine element concentrations in bulk materials, many of which have potentially significant applicability to coal analysis. The present paper highlights and summarizes some of the more important substantive content abstracted from an extensive and detailed report of the investigation. 9 references, 6 tables.

Overall, these two methods have been used to successfully characterize and quantify examples of transition metals (Ru), lanthanides (Eu), and actinides (U) and have significant potential to be applied to other species of interest.