COAL FLOTATION

Flotation is a method of concentration which utilizes the differences in physico-chemical

surface properties of particles of various minerals. Froth flotation is a widely used as a
cleaning process for fine coal.

Chemical and Petrographical Composition of Coal

Coal which is mostly used as a solid-fuel in the world is not homogeneous substance. It’s a
combustible sedimentary rock formed from plant remained under the influence of high
temperature and pressure. It’s characterized by its rank and type. The degree of
metamorphism determines the rank, such as peat to anthracite in the course of its
coalification.

Coals with their constituents vary in chemical composition from one to another, but generally
its accepted that coals are comprised of C, H, O, S and N. Oxygen, sulphur and nitrogen are
combined in chemically bound functional groups such as OH, CO, COOH, NH, S, HS,
etc…Also sulphur is present in coal in 4 forms: elemental sulfate, organic and pyritic sulphur.

One of the most important features of coal is internal capillary structure. The presence of
pores and cracks determine the specific surface area reacting with flotation reagents. It’s also
known that the equilibrium moisture contents of coals are dependent on their porous structure.
Coal becomes more porous when its rank decreases and becomes more difficult to treat by
froth flotation (Rank ranges from low C content to high: lignite, sub-bituminous, high volatile
bituminous (CBA), bituminous [medium volatile, low volatile] and anthracite).

Four main coal types were distinguished in banded bituminous coal: vitrain, clarain, durain
and fusain. While vitrain and clarain formed the bright and crystalline form of the coal: durain
and fusain form the dull and small crystalline part. The ease of flotation of coal increases from
fusain to durain.

The Floatability of Coal

For flotation to occur coal particles must attach to air bubbles in a flotation cell and be
removed into a froth layer. the tendency for attachment is characterized by the wettability of
the surface. Coal is naturally hydrophobic and has a high contact angle. The measured contact
angles are 20- 65˚ in distilled water. The natural floatability of coal depends upon its rank. As
the rank of coal decreases it becomes more difficult to treat by froth flotation.

Another important factor which influences the coal floatability is the ash content of the coal.
The floatability decreases as the ash content increases. Because the mineral matter is
associated with coal is hydrophilic.

There is a wide difference of the coals of different rank, an even of the same rank, depending
on whether coals is freshly mined or allowed to oxidize. Strip-mined coals are typically more
difficult to float than deep –mined coal from the same seam. Generally, freshly mined coal
floats better than coal which has been exposed to the atmosphere. The effect is attributed to
surface oxidation which is characterized by the formation of acid oxygen containing groups
such as COOH, OH and the dissociation of these groups so as to reduce the hydrophobicity of
the surface. The resistivity of coals to oxidation increases with their ranks. The floatability of
oxidized coal has been restored by the dissolving the oxidized surface layer in a %1 caustic
soda solution or by reduction with benzyl alcohol.

Coal floatability is very closely depended on the properties of inorganic impurities the mineral
matter is associated with unclean coal is made up of impurities present in the coals and also
shales and clays adjoin the coal seam are unavoidable extracted with it. The most important
constituents are quartzite, calcite the micas and the feldspar minerals together with pyrite,
marcasite, gypsum, highly soluble minerals. If the amount of clay minerals increases in coal it
must be necessary to disperse clays because of deleterious effect on flotation. Also gypsum
may be depressed with lime if it has attendance to float.

Coal flotation is characterized by the chemical and petrographical composition of coal and its
rank. Size and specific gravity of coal, pulp density and presence of slimes, rate and
uniformity of feed, conditioning, reagents, pH and type of flotation machine influence the
coal flotation.

Coal flotation of the fine material has both economical and environmental benefits by
recovering as much coal as possible from run of mine coal by reducing air and water
pollution due to the elimination of sulphur and reduction in the amount of solid which goes in
to streams or recirculation plant water.

Commercially used reagents for coal flotation include cresylic acid, pine oil or primary and
secondary aliphatic alcohols (all generally regarded as frothers) and kerosene, creosote, fuel
oil, gas oil, etc… (all generally regarded as collectors).

The most effective collectors that can be employed in coal flotation are non-polar oils with
low solubility in water derived from petroleum, wood, and coal tars. Typical non-polar
reagents are the kerosens, fuel oil, and crude petroleum Kerosene is one of the most widely
used oily collectors in the world, like fuel oil; its derived from petroleum and mixture of
saturated liquid hydrocarbons. In coal flotation the used dosage is around 250-1000 gr/ton. As
a frother MIBC ore pine oil can be used. If coal is not required to float, its surface can be
oxidized by potassium permanganate. Fort he most cost effective treatment of fine coal, the
ACCOAL promoter series was introduced, with ACCOAL 4433 promoter, to satisfy the
needs of coal preparation plants utilising froth flotation to produce metallurgical coal in -0.6
mm size range. For easily floatable coals, i.e., high volatility bituminous coals, one of the
ACCOAL promoters alone can provide optimum flotation results. For poorly floating coals
which normally require high dosages of hydrocarbon oil for flotation, the use of some
kerosene or diesel oil in conjuction with an ACCOAL promoter may be necessary. Flotation
of oxidized coal can also be performed by using cationic collector such as an amine.

Experimental Procedure

• Prepare 150 grams of coal + quartz mixture to work at % 15 pulp densities in a 1 lt

cell volume.
• Mix of coal + quartz sample in the cell for homogenization.
• Add a few droplets of kerosene as a collector and conditioned with for 2 minutes.
• Than add a 3.5 ml of MIBC as frother.
• Provide the air flow into the cell and wait for a while to get the froth layer.
• Having taken from the froth layer of coal will be separated from quartz.