The effect of clay minerals on flotation performance and bubble size of coal

Flotation is one of the most effective methods for the recovery of coal particles due to the natural hydrophobic structure of coal. However, the presence of clay minerals in flotation processes causes many negative effects. In this thesis, the effect of different clay minerals (kaoline-montmorillonite) on the flotation performance and bubble size of Tunçbilek lignite coal was investigated and the relationship between clay quantity / type and flotation chemicals used and bubble size was investigated.In the experimental studies, gas oil was used as collector, methylisobutylcarbinol (MIBC), DOW250 and sodium silicate as depressant. Clay type (kaolin-montmorillonite) amount (5-10-15%), collector amount, foaming type-amount, depressant amount and flotation time are experimental parameters studied.Kütahya-Tunçbilek lignite coal is brought to the point of pH 2.1 was determined as the zeta potential is zero. The Optimum amount of depressant was determined as 200 g/t for samples containing kaolen and 300 g/t for samples containing montmorillonite. As the amount of kaolen Clay was increased, the yield decreased and the ash content in the concentrate increased, while in Montmorillonite, both the yield and the amount of concentrated ash increased. In experimental studies conducted with the aim of determining the appropriate foaming type-quantity, it was determined that higher burnable yield values with Dowfroth-250 but lower ash content concentrates with MIBC were obtained and optimum foaming amount was determined as 200 g / t in feeding samples containing both clay.Dowfroth-250, according to MIBC ; the ore containing Montmorillonite caused larger bubbles to be produced than the ore containing kaolen.