Oily bubble flotation technology combining modeling and optimization of parameters for enhancement of flotation of low-flame coal

Abstract

There are abundant low-medium rank coal resources in China that provide an important guarantee for China's economic and social development as well as security of energy supply. However, it is difficult to achieve the economic recovery of low-medium rank coals by conventional flotation owing to its high natural surface hydrophilicity. In this study, the characteristics of low-medium rank coal samples were comprehensively investigated based on their size/density distributions, XPS, BET, and SEM analyses. An improved oily bubble flotation combining modeling and optimization of technological parameters was employed to enhance the flotation of low-medium rank coal samples. The results indicated that the studied samples were rich in oxygenated functional groups, pores, and cracks that existed on the surfaces of the coal samples, thereby making it difficult for them to float. As a result, the collector dosage was maintained at a high level ranging from 10 to 50 kg/t in the conventional flotation of the coal sample. However, the oily bubble flotation technology showed much better flotation efficiency in the case of low-medium rank coal, achieving a higher combustible matter recovery at a much smaller collector dosage. Additionally, various parameters, such as the collector dosage, impeller speed, flotation pulp concentration, and air flow rate, had a profound effect on the flotation performance in the oily bubble flotation of the coal samples. An optimization of the technological parameters was conducted regarding the flotation of oily bubbles of low-medium rank coals, and a quadratic function model for the combustible matter recovery was established. Finally, an optimization scheme was established attaining a combustible matter recovery of 86.32% for oily bubble flotation of coal samples, where the frother dosage, collector dosage, impeller speed, pulp concentration, and air flow rate were 0.4 kg/t, 2.32 kg/t, 2198.53 rev/min, 52.47 g/L, and 0.23 m3/h, respectively. As a consequence of the optimization scheme, the collector dosage was decreased by 95.36%.