Dry beneficiation of coal on KAT air table

Abstract

ABSTRACT Dry gravity-based separation processes such as pneumatic jigs and tables generally use density stratification of feed material with light and dense particles to achieve separation. Therefore, it is necessary to enhance the stratification of the particles in the separation bed. The main purpose of this work was to evaluate the use of an intrinsic autogenous separation medium of feed coal for the dry separation process by increasing the separation bed height in a pneumatic table separator. Tests were conducted and the results showed that increased bed height and an autogenous separation bed resulted in a significant benefit for the separation efficiency. Bituminous coal samples with high-density impurities containing 48.9% feed ash were reduced to 7.7% ash content with a combustible recovery of 89.7%. In the case of higher density anthracite coal, the experimental separator was able to reduce feed ash 50–60% to 26–28% in the product.