Determination of effects of microwave radiation, collector and froth amounts on lignite flotation by using the statistical design of experiment method

In the present study, flotation of Tunçbilek and Cayırhan lignite were statistically analyzed under the influence of microwave heating by using factorial experimental design. The purpose of the study is to reveal the impacts of microwave heating, the amount of collector and frother on flotation efficiency and ash removal. By doing so, parameters effective on flotation were determined and a basis for optimization was proposed. In the current study, in order to reveal the appropriate amount of collector and frother experiments by exposing the samples to microwave heating and without exposing them to microwave heating, experiments were carried out. According to the results of the experiments 4290 gr/t of collector and 20 ppm of frother were determined as the appropriate amounts for Tuncbilek and Cayırhan lignite. Although microwave heating was an effective parameter on flotation efficiency, it was not as effective as the collector and the frother. Besides, the most influential parameter that created the conditions for the highest combustibile efficiency was the collector. As a result of the experiments done, by decreasing the ash content of Tuncbilek lignite 20%, 93% combustible recovery was achieved. For Cayırhan lignite samples, by decreasing the ash content 16 %, 49% combustible recovery was achieved. Key Words: Flotation, microwave heating, collector, frother, mechanical cell.