Abstract
One of the major problems facing further improvement in coarse coal flotation recovery has been identified as a need to increase the yield of coarse middlings material within the nominal minus 0.5 mm feed. To this end the chemical variables associated with coarse coal flotation have been investigated in detail. Increases in yield of up to 25% were obtained with a series of non-ionic frothers (relative to MIBC). These frothers produce very stable hydrated froths which are able to retain the middlings material, thus reducing the loss of floated coal from the froth. Non-ionic emulsifiers, such as nonyl phenol ethoxylates, were also found to increase coarse coal recovery by lowering the oil/water interfacial tension of the collector. However, excess emulsifier led to reduced flotation yields through a reduction in the three phase contact angle.
Published Version
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