Performance of Vegetable Oils as Flotation Collectors for the Recovery of Coal from Coal Fines Wastes

Abstract

The objective of this work is to study the feasibility of using vegetable oils which are available, renewable and nonpolluting energy resources as flotation reagents for the recovery of coal from coal fines wastes. To comply with this objective, crude SOC soyabean oil and a used AB olive oil of household origin were used as collectors in the flotation of the fines fraction of a coal dump from Ponferrada in Spain, which is currently being reclaimed in a nearby preparation plant. The results were evaluated by the yield of flotation concentrate, the ash content of the concentrate and the reagents cost. These results were compared with those obtained when a commercial reagent of mineral origin was employed, Ready to burn coal fines fuels were recovered from the waste by flotation with used AB and original SOC vegetable oils.

Keywords:

• Coal fines wastes
• Coal recovery
• Coal flotation
• Vegetable oils

Additional information

Notes on contributors

A. B. GARCIA

Corresponding author. Fax: [phone], e-mail: [email protected]