Relationships Between oil agglomeration and surface properties of coal: Effect of pH and Oil Composition

Abstract

Oil agglomeration is a surface-dependent process which can be applied to separate coal and mineral particles. The efficiency of separation is related to the interfacial properties present in the system. In this investigation, the properties of the coal/water, mineral/water, coal/oil, mineral/oil and water/oil interfaces were changed by changing the slurry pH or the oil composition. These changes were then related to the agglomeration process. The agglomeration process was evaluated in terms of agglomeration times. Percentage deashing and organic recovery. In the agglomeration experiments, organic recoveries of up to 98% and deashing values as high as 78% on coal with an initial mineral content of 19% were achieved. The mean particle size was 5 µm and oil addition was 60–70% by weight of coal. Tetralin and tetralin containing tetralin peroxide. the air oxidation product of tetralin, were used as agglomeration oils The interfacial properties were studied by zeta potential, interfacial tension, contact angle...