Influence of Electrical Double-Layer Interaction on Coal Flotation.pdf

Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 250, 337–343 (2002) doi:10.1006/jcis.2002.8367 Influence of Electrical Double-Layer Interaction on Coal Flotation Paul A. Harvey, Anh V. Nguyen,1 and Geoffrey M. Evans Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan NSW 2308, Australia Received January 8, 2002; accepted March 15, 2002; published online May 15, 2002 Only few minerals are naturally hydrophobic, like coal and In the early 1930s it was first reported that inorganic electrolytes graphite. In most mineral flotation, chemical reagents called enhance the floatability of coal and naturally hydrophobic min- the collectors are used to selectively coat a particular mineral, erals. To date, explanations of coal flotation in electrolytes have thereby rendering the mineral surface hydrophobic. The stabil- not been entirely clear. This research investigated the floatability ity of the air bubbles is usually enhanced by the addition of of coal in NaCl and MgCl2 solutions using a modified Hallimond tube to examine the role of the electrical double-layer interaction surface-active agents called frothers. between bubbles and particles. Flotation of coal was highly depen- In coal preparation the majority of coal is cleaned by gravity dent on changes in solution pH, type of electrolyte, and electrolyte separation to reduce ash and pyrite/clay content. The fraction of concentration. Floatability of coal in electrolyte solutions was seen fine coal particles (under 500 µm) is re