Investigation and optimization of the recovery of coal fines using oil agglomeration process: Use of waste oils from different sectors

ABSTRACT

The high cost of the bridging liquid subdues the implementation and commercialization of oil agglomeration process. To overcome this problem, waste oils from different sectors were used in this present study. The performance of the process was assessed based on the responses like ash rejection and organic matter recovery. The aim of the present study was to investigate the usage of waste oils from different sectors and to optimize and analyze the behavioral pattern showcased by different variables (pulp density, oil dosage, agglomeration time and oil type) using response surface methodology (Box-Behnken design). Experimental investigation shows that the optimum pulp density, oil dosage, agglomeration time and oil type condition obtained as 3%, 15%, 15 min and waste engine oil, respectively. At optimum condition, the % ash rejection and % organic matter recovery obtained as 63.94% and 81.8%, respectively.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Oil agglomeration
• response surface methodology
• waste engine oil
• waste soybean oil
• waste transformer oil

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Corrigendum

Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to the Department of Fuel & Mineral Engineering, IIT-ISM Dhanbad for providing necessary aid to conduct experiment. Authors are also grateful to Management of Coal India Ltd, for providing sample. Thanks are extended to Mr. S.N. Gope, Mr. Anil, Mr. Sunil for help in sample preparation.