International journal of coal preparation and utilization
Paginering:
Jaargang 22 (2002) nr. 3 pagina's 123-149
Jaar:
2002-05
Inhoud:
Designing new reagents is of vital importance for the flotation of coal, especially for processing low-rank and/or oxidized coals, which are difficult to float with commonly used fuel oil or kerosene because of the high surface oxygen content. Because of the complex nature of coal surfaces, both hydrogen bonding and aromatic-aromatic interactions were considered in searching for more effective coal collectors. The flotation of two high-sulfur coals was studied in detail, using a series of nonionic surfactants as collectors containing oxygenated as well as aromatic functional groups. Most of the work was conducted with tetra-hydrofurfuryl esters (THF) as the coal collectors, and the performance of these reagents was compared with that of two oily collectors, namely dodecane and nonylbenzene. With some of the reagents, comparable combustible matter recovery can be achieved at a fraction of the dosage of dodecane collector required. More important was the performance of these compounds as promoters for oxidized coal flotation. Finally, joint collector flotation experiments were conducted, and the results showed that a very small addition of a THF reagent before the dodecane addition greatly enhances the flotation of coal. Mechanisms of interaction of these compounds with coal are suggested.