An evaluation procedure for flocculation of coal preparation plant tailings

Abstract

In solid–liquid separation of coal preparation plant tailings by flocculation, in addition to the type and amount of flocculants, the composition of waste materials including clay minerals must be determined in order to devise an effective and economic sedimentation system. In this study, the characterization of organic and inorganic impurities was made with the help of mineralogical data and instrumental analysis techniques. The effects of polymer type (medium and low anionic, cationic and nonionic), polymer dosage and suspension pH on flocculation mechanism of tailings particles (–0.18 mm) in the Tunçbilek Coal Preparation Plant tailings of Tunçbilek (Turkey) were investigated. Medium anionic polymer accelerated the settling rate of particles. An optimum settling rate (300 mm/min) was reached at a dosage rate of 34.19 g/ton-solids (2.0 mg/l), 51.28 g/ton-solids (3.0 mg/l), 102.56 g/ton-solids (6.0 mg/l) and 119.66 g/ton-solids (7.0 mg/l) for medium anionic, low charged anionic, nonionic and cationic polymers, respectively. The lowest turbidity values at low polymer dosages were obtained by the cationic polymer at around 25.64 g/ton-solids (1.5 mg/l) polymer dosages; however, the low anionic and nonionic polymers produced lower turbidity values at higher dosages (>25.64 g/ton-solids). At optimum dosages of the polymer, the settling rate decreased at low and high pHs indicating that the natural pH (pH 8.3) of the suspension is the most appropriate pH for the settling rate. On the other hand, the water clarity values at natural pHs were high for all of the polymers.