Alternative Title

Two-step flotation and reverse flotation circuits of iron oxide and its process minerology

Abstract

Froth flotation is a widely used, cost effective coal cleaning process. However, its high process efficiency is limited to a narrow particle size range between approximately 50 to 600 μm for coal and 10 to 100 μm for minerals. Beyond this range, the efficiency of froth flotation decreases sharply, especially for difficult-to-float coal fines of weak hydrophobicity (e.g., oxidized coal).

This study was aimed at enhancing recovery of an Illinois fine coal sample using a flotation column featuring a hydrodynamic cavitation nanobubble generator. Nanobubbles that are mostly smaller than 1 μm can be formed selectively on hydrophobic coal particles from dissolved air in fine coal slurry. Results indicate that combustible recovery of a -150 μm coal was increased by 5-50% for different size fractions in presence of nanobubbles, depending on process operating conditions. Other major advantages of the nanobubble flotation process include lower collector dosage and air consumption since nanobubbles are produced from air naturally dissolved in water and they act as a secondary collector on particle surfaces, thereby resulting in considerably lower operating costs.

Meeting Name

SME Annual Meeting

Department(s)

Mining Engineering

Publication Status

Open Access

Keywords and Phrases

Cavitation; coal; froth flotation; nanobubble

Document Type

Article - Preprint

Document Version

Preprint

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2024 SME Annual Meeting, All rights reserved

Publication Date

February 24-27. 2013

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