Characterization of tki (Çan) lignites and investigation of sulfur removal

In this study, physical (heavy media washing), chemical (humic acid) and biological (Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Leptospirillum ferrooxidans and Pseudomonas putida) leaching methods were applied for removing of pyritic and organic sulfur from a high ash-sulfur content (36.29% ash and 7.02% S) lignite coal taken from Çan (Turkish Coal Enterprises (TKI), Çanakkale) region. The experimental study contained three main stages as (i) heavy media washing process was applied to raw coal samples classified in certain grain sizes, (ii) column leaching&bioleaching experiments at atmospheric pressure were performed on clean coals obtained from sink-float tests and (iii) finally, combination use of these methods. After washing (1.6 g/cm3, heavy media), chemical and biological leaching of Çan (Çanakkale) lignite coals (-10+0.5 mm, 16.46% ash and 6.14% S), a clean coal with 4.40% ash and 2.09% S content was obtained.