95/00076 Effect of bubble generating devices on recovery of clean coal from refuse using column flotation

Abstract

Column flotation testing was conducted on the flotation feed slurry obtained from a preparation plant located in the southern Illinois coal basin using three different bubble generating devices, static sparger, gas saver and foam jet. Each of these devices were tested with three different types of frother and various column operating variables to provide maximum combustible recovery, minimum product ash and maximum pyrite rejection. Alcohol frothers were most effective for use with the static sparger, somewhat less effective for the foam jet and ineffective for the gas saver. Glycol frothers were effective for all three bubble generating systems, providing high combustible recovery (>90 percent), low clean coal ash (4-6 percent ash) and high pyrite rejection (70-80 percent).