Abstract: A carbon-in-ash monitor uses a fluidized bed furnace to burn any carbon in sampled boiler flue ash and evolve carbon dioxide therefrom. Fluidizing gas (air) is provided to the bed a measured flow rate and a batching arrangement feeds successive batches of ash of measured mass to the furnace at a measured frequency. A CO.sub.2 monitor measures the amount of CO.sub.2 evolved to determine the carbon content of the ash. Batches are provided using a vibratory table to transport ash from a point of supply to the table and a point of delivery of ash in a stream from the table. The vibratory table is horizontal and is driven so that the mode of vibration can be selected to reverse the direction of ash transport.