Comparative Response on Flotation of Coal by Using Process and De-Ionized Water

ABSTRACT

Recycling of the process water is an essential aspect for the mineral and coal processing industries to address the challenges on the sustainability of the environment. In this study, the influence of dissolved ions presents in the process water of an Indian coal preparation plant is investigated on flotation behavior of coal by a combination of release analysis, batch flotation tests, dynamic froth stability measurements, surface tension measurements, contact angle measurements, zeta potential measurements, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy measurements. Also, comparison studies are conducted with de-ionized water to float the same coal for the evaluation.

KEYWORDS:

• Process water
• dissolved ions
• coal flotation
• dynamic froth stability
• recycling
• surface tension
• contact angle
• zeta potential
• FTIR

Acknowledgements

Authors are thankful to Tata Steel Ltd management for the support and permission to publish this work. SKT would like to acknowledge “Labex Ressources 21” supported by the French National Research Agency through the national program “Investissements d’Avenir” [reference ANR–10–LABX–21] for his fellowship.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.