Coal Recycling from Tailings using Flotation with 2-Level Experimental Design Techinques

In this study, the possibility of producing coal with less than 11% ash from tailingsof flotation process was investigated. The effect of six flotation parameters: collectortype, collector consumption, frother type, frother consumption, pulp density and mixingrate were studied on a sample from a tailing dam. A software based experimental designapproach (DX7) was applied to determine and model effective parameters as well asflotation optimization through fractional factorial. It was shown that collector type andflotation machine mixing rate were the most effective parameters on ash content ofconcentrate. The results indicated that the production of a desired ash contentconcentrate, i.e. <11% was feasible. It was also shown that at the optimum conditions ofexperiment, production of a concentrate with about 10% ash content, and 12% weightrecovery would be possible.

Keywords:

Coal Recycling , Tailings Flotation , Statistical Design