Floatability of coal and pyrite

Technical Report · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:5750820

Le, H V

Effect of surface-active agents on floatability of an Iowa coal and associated pyrite was studied with and without methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC). Effectiveness of chemical pretreatment for depressing pyrite was also investigated. In another phase of the research, the zeta potential of the same coal and pyrite was measured under the same conditions used in the flotation tests (in the absence of frother). In the absence of MIBC, the floatability of coal and pyrite was low and depended on pH. Max recovery of pyrite was obtained at a pH of 4.5. Addition of small amounts of sodium cyanide, ferric chloride, Na/sub 2/H/sub 2/EDTA, and ammonium thiocyanate reduced the floatability of pyrite somewhat over a wide range of pH. Addition of a small amount of MIBC increased the recovery of coal and pyrite with the increase in the recovery of coal being much greater than the increase in the recovery of pyrite. The floatability of coal and pyrite seemed to be affected more by pH than in the absence of MIBC. On the other hand, several potential pyrite depressants were found to be ineffective in the presence of MIBC. Chemical pretreatment reduced the floatability of pyrite markedly while not greatly affecting the floatability of coal. Measurement of the zeta potential of coal and pyrite suspensions in dilute aqueous solutions of various reagents provided an indication of adsorption phenomena. However, there appeared to be no consistent direct correlation between zeta potential and floatability.

• Research Organization: Ames Lab., IA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-82
• OSTI ID: 5750820
• Report Number(s): IS-T-971; ON: DE82005622
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
013000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
ALCOHOLS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHALCOGENIDES
COAL
ELECTROPHORESIS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLOTATION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON SULFIDES
MATERIALS
MINERALS
ORES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
PYRITE
PYRITES
RECOVERY
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR ORES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS