The effect of collector, frother dosage and their interaction on the flotation of bottom ash by full factorial design

Abstract

Bottom ash samples taken from Mihaliccik-Cayirhan coal-fired power plant operated by Park Termik Company were used in this study. Combustible matter percentage in the samples is around 9 %. The aims of this study are to recover combustible matter in the bottom ash by flotation and to evaluate the usability of floatation tailings in the construction works by reducing the percentage of combustible matter less than 6%. Flotation experiments were designed with full factorial design to investigate the effect of collector and frother dosage on the recovery of combustible matter. In this study, statistical experimental design methods were utilized in the flotation works, and therefore, the effects of collector and frother dosages on the ash and unburned carbon contents were not only modeled, but the interaction between these factors were also determined in the unburned carbon floatation. Two models obtained at this study were found to be significant statistically. The results have shown that there is an interaction between collector and frother dosages in the floatation selectivity (in the ash content), whereas this interaction was found to be insignificant statistically at the selected parameter levels for this sample in the case of unburned carbon recovery.