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U.S. Department of Energy
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Evaluation of collector addition in the flotation of various US coals

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5480036

Laboratory flotation tests were conducted with coals obtained from six coalbeds in the United States to determine the value of using oily collectors, such as fuel oil or kerosine, along with a frother as routine procedure in coal flotation circuits. In order to improve our capability for measuring small differences in the test results and to assure greater reproducibility, a modified laboratory flotation cell with mechanical froth scrapers was fabricated and adapted to a conventional laboratory flotation machine. The results of the flotation study showed that clean coal yield, product quality and, in some cases, coal flotation rate and froth solids concentration are affected by the presence of oily collector in the pulp. In general, the test results showed that the collector may be either helpful or harmful depending on the natural floatability of the coal. That is, the very floatable deep-mined Appalachian region coals did not benefit by collector addition within the reagent dosage range used in this work. Generally, clean coal yield was no better than that obtained with a modicum of frother along while product quality, in terms of ash and sulfur content, deteriorated. Poorly floatable coals, on the other hand, benefited by collector addition. Less of the relatively costly frother was required to obtain equal clean coal yield and product quality.

Research Organization:
Department of Energy, Pittsburgh, PA (USA). Pittsburgh Mining Technology Center
OSTI ID:
5480036
Report Number(s):
PMTC-7(80)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English