Statistically modelling of coal flotation in a pilot plant scale column cell

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of various operational parameters, including aeration rate, feed flow rate, collector and frother dosage, on the efficiency of coal flotation. A pilot-scale column flotation process was utilized. CCD method and ANOVA were used to develop the process model from the input-output data set of a pilot scale column flotation process and to test the weight recovery models and concentrate ash percentage. By optimizing the parameters, such as using a fuel oil collector dosage of 900 g/t, MIBC frother dosage of 340 g/t, and an aeration rate of 10594.6 ml/min, a column flotation operation achieved a recovery of 50.06% and an ash concentrate of 11.6%. The results showed that the aeration rate had the most significant influence on the ash content of concentrate and recovery, compared to the collector and frother dosages.

Keywords

• modelling
• column flotation
• coal
• response surface method