A Study on Characterization and Use of Flotation to Separate Unburned Carbon in Bottom Ash from Çayirhan Power Plant

Abstract

In this study, bottom ash from the Tuncbilek power plant has been characterized by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, and infrared analysis. The bottom ash sample is potentially of class C type and has unburned carbon. The unburned carbon was separated from the bottom ash in a laboratory flotation cell. In the flotation experiment, sodium silicate (as a potential dispersant and depressant), butanol (promoter), kerosene oil (collector), and pine oil (frother) were used and the optimization of these flotation reagents were done through statistical modeling using a full two-level factorial design in order to evaluate the main and interaction effects of variables in flotation of unburned carbon; the evaluation of the results was done by Yates' notation. Test results showed that a product with 45.41% combustible grade at 40.0% recovery and 94.86% ash rejection was obtained at 1.98 g/kg sodium silicate, 1.38 g/kg promoter, 4.95 g/kg collector, and 2.41 g/kg frother.