Floatability of coal and pyrite

Thesis/Dissertation · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7141623· OSTI ID:7141623

Le, Huu Van ^[1]

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1. Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)

An experimental investigation was carried out to improve the froth flotation method of separating coal pyrite. The effect of several surface active agents on the floatability of an Iowa coal and its associated pyrite was studied in both the presence and absence of methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC), a commonly used frother. The effectiveness of a special method of chemical pretreatment for depressing pyrite was also investigated. 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 appeared to depend on pH. The maximum recovery of pyrite was obtained at a pH of 4.5 with recovery being less at higher or lower pH. The addition of a small amount of MIBC significantly 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. Also in the presence of MIBC, 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. The special 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., Ames, IA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-82
• OSTI ID: 7141623
• Report Number(s): IS-T--779
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010402* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Purification & Upgrading
ADDITIVES
ALCOHOLS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL
COAL PREPARATION
COMMINUTION
DESULFURIZATION
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY SOURCES
FLOTATION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IOWA
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON SULFIDES
MIDWEST REGION
MINERALS
NORTH AMERICA
ORES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
PYRITE
PYRITES
RECOVERY
REMOVAL
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR ORES
SURFACTANTS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
USA