Separation of Pyritic Sulfur from Egyptian Coal Using Falcon Concentrator

Abstract

Pyritic sulfur separation of El-Maghara coal ore was studied using Falcon concentrator model SB40-VFD as an enhanced centigugal gravity separator. The coal sample was ground to below 100 µm to reach liberation between pyrite and coal. Optimization of the separation process has been studied using central composite rotatable design (CCRD) and response surface method (RSM). The studied working factors were the back-water pressure (psi) and rotation frequency (Hz) and their interactions, where the feeding rate and pulp density were kept constant through all experiments. A model describing the relation between pyritic sulfur separation efficiency percentage and the previously mentioned operating variables and their interactions, have been designed. Results showed that maximum separation efficiency reached 70.61%, with decreasing total sulfur, and pyritic sulfur contents reaching 1.72% and 0.48% from original assays reaching 2.90% and 1.60%, respectively. That maximum separation efficiency was attained at 78.38 Hz rotation frequency (rotor speed 2282 rpm, 300 g) and 3.90 psi back-water pressure. The amenability of pyritic sulfur separation from the Egyptian coal using Falcon concentrator are determined. Technical difficulties within the separation process are highlighted.