Abstract
Flotation column is widely used as the separation equipment for fine mineral due to its high selectivity. However, this device may be unsuitable for the coarse particle flotation and has high handling ability. A two-stage flotation column with dimensions of 2 000 mm×1 000 mm×4 000 mm was designed to enhance the column flotation process. The energy input was modified by adjusting the flow rate and the head of circulating pump. The flotation column was designed with low energy input in the first stage (speed flotation stage) to recover easy-to-float materials quickly, and high energy input in the second stage (recovery stage) to recover difficult-to-float minerals compulsorily. Contrast experiments on the throughput and coarse coal recovery of high ash coal from the Kailuan Mine were conducted using conventional single-stage flotation column and the two-stage flotation column. The results show that the combustible matter recovery of the two-stage flotation column is 5.25% higher than that of the conventional single-stage flotation column. However, the ash contents of clean coal for both columns are similar. Less coarse coals with low ash are obtained using the two-stage flotation column than that using the single-stage column flotation with the same handling ability. The two-stage flotation column process can enhance coal flotation compared with the conventional single-stage column flotation.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
BERGH L G, YIANATOS J B. Flotation column automation: State of the art [J]. Control Engineering Practice, 2003, 11(1): 67–72.
WEBER A, MEADOWS D, VILLANUEVA F, PALOMO R, PRADO S. Development of the world’s largest flotation machine [C]// Proceedings of the Centenary of flotation Symposium. Brisbane, Australia: Meeting of the SME and the AusIMM, 2005: 285–291.
DENG H, MEHTA R K, WARREN G W. Numerical modeling of flows in flotation columns [J]. International Journal of Coal Preparation and Utilization, 1996, 48(1/2): 61–72.
GUI Xia-hui, LIU Jiong-tian, CHENG Gan, LIAO Yin-fei, CAO Yi-jun, WANG Yong-tian. Effect of energy input on coal flotation process [J]. Journal of Central South University: Science and Technology, 2012, 43(6): 2075–208. (in Chinese)
XU Zheng-he, LIU Jian-jun, CHOUNG J W, ZHOU Zhiang. Electrokinetic study of clay interactions with coal in flotation [J]. International Journal of Mineral Processing, 2003, 68(1/2/3/4): 183–196.
AKDEMIR U, SÖNMEZ I. Investigation of coal and ash recovery and entrainment in flotation [J]. Fuel Processing Technology, 2003, 82(1): 1–9.
SHAHBAZI B, REZAI B, JAVAD K S M, NOAPARAST M. The effect of dimensionless parameters on coal flotation [J]. International Journal of Coal Preparation and Utilization, 2012, 32(4): 157–168.
XIA Wen-cheng, YANG Jian-guo, LIANG Chuan. A short review of improvement in flotation of low rank/oxidized coals by pretreatments [J]. Powder Technology, 2013, 237: 1–8.
SOKOLOVIC J M, STANOJLOVIC R D, MARKOVIC Z S. The effects of pretreatment on the flotation kinetics of waste coal [J]. International Journal of Coal Preparation and Utilization, 2012, 32(3): 130–142.
XIA Wen-cheng, YANG Jian-guo, LIANG Chuan. Effect of microwave pretreatment on oxidized coal flotation [J]. Powder Technology, 2013, 233: 186–189.
SAHBAZ O. Determining optimal conditions for lignite flotation by design of experiments and the halbich upgrading curve [J]. Physicochemical Problems of Mineral Processing, 2013, 49(2): 535–546.
XIA Wen-cheng, YANG Jian-guo, LIANG Chuan. Improving oxidized coal flotation using biodiesel as a collector [J]. International Journal of Coal Preparation and Utilization, 2013, 33(4): 181–187.
SOKOLOVIC J M, STANOJLOVIC R D, MARKOVIC Z S. Activation of oxidized surface of anthracite waste coal by attrition [J]. Physicochemical Problems of Mineral Processing, 2012, 48(1): 5–18.
XIA Wen-cheng, YANG Jian-guo, ZHAO Yue-min, ZHU Bin, WANG Yu-ling. Improving floatability of Taixi anthracite coal of mild oxidation by grinding [J]. Physicochemical Problem of Mineral Processing, 2012, 48(2): 393–401.
TAO D, YU S, ZHOU X H, HONAKER R Q, PAREKH B K. Picobubble column flotation of fine coal [J]. International Journal of Coal Preparation and Utilization, 2008, 28(1): 1–14.
DOBBY G S, FINCH J A. Column flotation. A selected review: Part II [J]. Minerals Engineering, 1991, 4(7/8/9/10/11): 911–923.
HONAKER R Q, OZSEVER, AHMET V, PAREKH B K. Selective detachment process in column flotation froth [J]. Minerals Engineering, 2006, 19(6/7/8): 687–695.
BARBIAN N, HADLER K, VENTURA-MEDINA E, CILLIERS J J. The froth stability column: Linking froth stability and flotation performance [J]. Minerals Engineering, 2005, 18(3): 317–324.
SEAMAN D R, FRANZIDIS J P, MANLAPIG E V. Bubble load measurement in the pulp zone of industrial flotation machines—A new device for determining the froth recovery of attached particles [J]. International Journal of Mineral Processing, 2004, 74(1/2/3/4): 1–13.
MOHANTY M K, HONAKER R Q. Comparative evaluation of the leading advanced flotation technologies [J]. Minerals Engineering, 1999, 12(1): 1–13.
YIANATOS J B, BERGH L G, CORTES G A. Froth zone modelling of an industrial flotation column [J]. Minerals Engineering, 1998, 11(5): 423–435.
GUI Xia-hui. Two-stage separation and process intensification of fine coal [D]. Xuzhou: China University of Mining and Technology, 2012. (in Chinese)
HONAKER R Q, MOHANTY M K. Enhanced column flotation performance for fine coal cleaning [J]. Minerals Engineering, 1996, 9(9): 931–945.
MALDONADO M, DESBIENS A, del VILLAR R. Potential use of model predictive control for optimizing the column flotation process [J]. International Journal of Mineral Processing, 2009, 93(1): 26–33.
LI Xiao-bin, LIU Jiong-tian, XIAO Yun-qi, XIAO Xin. Modification technology for separation of oily sludge [J]. Journal of Central South University of Technology, 2011, 18(2): 367–373.
GUI Xia-hui. LIU Jiong-tian, TAO Xiu-xiang, WANG Yong-tian, CAO Yi-jun. Studies on flotation rate of a hard-to-float fine coal [J]. Journal of the China Coal Society, 2011, 36(11): 1895–1900. (in Chinese)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Foundation item: Project(2012CB214905) supported by the National Basic Research Program of China; Project(51074157) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gui, Xh., Liu, Jt., Cao, Yj. et al. Process intensification of fine coal separation using two-stage flotation column. J. Cent. South Univ. 20, 3648–3659 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-013-1892-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-013-1892-1