Modified oil agglomeration process for coal beneficiation. I. Mineral matter liberation by fine grinding with the szego mill

Abstract

AbstractThe spherical oil agglomeration technique developed at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) is an excellent method for cleaning and recovering very small coal particles. The finely ground coal, dispersed in water, is contacted with oil by intensive mixing. The hydrophobic coal particles collect onto the oil droplets to form the agglomerates which are then separated from the aqueous phase by screening.A Szego Mill was used to wet grind Minto (New Brunswick) coal which was then subjected to laboratory agglomeration by the NRC procedure. A comparison with coal ground in a ball mill indicated superior ash rejection. The improved performance is attributed to better mineral liberation which is enhanced by the more flaky particles produced in the Szego Mill.