Dewatering studies of fine clean coal

Technical Report · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6133186

Parekh, B K ^[1]

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1. Kentucky Univ., Lexington, KY (USA). Center for Applied Energy Research

Physical cleaning of ultra-fine coal using advanced froth flotation technique provides a low ash product; however, the amount of water associated with clean coal is high. Economic removal of water from the froth will be important for commercial applicability of the novel processes. The main objective of the present research program is to study and understand dewatering characteristics of ultra-fine clean coal and to develop process parameters to effectively reduce the moisture to less than 20 percent in the clean coal product. The research approach utilizes synergistic effect of metal ions and surfactant to lower the moisture of clean coal using conventional vacuum dewatering technique. During this contract period clean coal product obtained using the advanced Ken-Flote column was characterized. The average particle size of the clean coal was 21 microns and contained about 8 percent ash. The electrokinetic studies conducted on the coal before and after flotation shows a strong adsorption of fuel oil on the coal surface. Adsorption of Cu(II) metal ions and a cationic surfactant lowered the zeta potential to zero, depending on the pH of the suspension. Dewatering of clean coal froth without addition of any reagent provided 35 percent moisture cake; addition of 2.5 lb/ton of fuel oil reduced moisture to 30 percent. Efforts are in progress to understand adsorption phenomena of the reagents, contact angle studies and micrographic analysis of the filter cake. From these data, optimum process conditions will be identified to obtain a filter cake containing less than 20 percent moisture. 10 figs., 1 tab.

• Research Organization: Illinois Dept. of Energy and Natural Resources, Springfield, IL (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: FG22-90PC90176
• OSTI ID: 6133186
• Report Number(s): DOE/PC/90176-T16; ON: DE91010498
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010300* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Preparation-- (1987-)
ADSORPTION
ASH CONTENT
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
COAL FINES
COAL PREPARATION
CONCENTRATORS
COPPER
DEASHING
DEWATERING EQUIPMENT
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELECTROPHORESIS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
EXTRACTION APPARATUSES
EXTRACTION COLUMNS
FILTRATION
FLOTATION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MATERIALS
METALS
MOISTURE
PARTICLE SIZE
PH VALUE
POTENTIALS
PROGRESS REPORT
REMOVAL
SEPARATION EQUIPMENT
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SIZE
SORPTION
SURFACE POTENTIAL
SURFACTANTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WATER REMOVAL