ACARP ACARP ACARP ACARP
Coal Preparation

Evaluation of Residual Frother Minimisation Strategies

Coal Preparation » Fine Coal

Published: December 18Project Number: C25013

Get ReportAuthor: Philip Ofori, Clint McNally | CSIRO

This project was undertaken to quantify the effectiveness of a number of approaches recommended for minimising unwanted frothing caused in part by residual frother in process streams in coal preparation plants.  In order to be able to make these assessments, a rapid, portable frother sensor able to detect the low residual frother concentrations was needed.  In the first part of the study, a reliable analytical sensor system and measurement technique were developed capable of determining low concentrations of frother as encountered in CHPP process streams. This instrument has been used to determine frother concentrations in aqueous solutions and slurry samples collected in laboratory, pilot-scale and CHPP process streams.

It examined frother concentration distribution in process streams and frother removal kinetics in flotation systems. The frother removal kinetics in two and three-phase batch flotation tests was found to be well described by the first order chemical reaction kinetics model. The role of frother adsorption onto coal particle surfaces in frother partition in three-phase flotation was also examined. It was found that surprisingly high proportion of initial frother added was adsorbed onto the coal water interface during the condition stage and the degree of adsorption was rank dependent. The higher the rank the greater the amount of frother adsorbed.

Frother removal in air stripping packed column system showed that it is effective in removing frother from aqueous solutions but at very high air/liquid ratios. Up to 80% of frother was removed in a pilot scale unit when operated at an air to liquid ratio of 680. Solids content of the liquid containing frother needed to be very low to prevent fouling and blockage of the channels in the packed bed. This is likely to make it difficult to apply it in the coal preparation environment.

The plant audit data showed that the actual frother dosage to primary flotation cells was lower than what was measured using the frother detector. This is an indication that the coal thickener was functioning to contain the frother associated with the concentrate within the ultrafines circuit and thus minimising the residual frother to other circuits where frothing is not required. It also showed that the frother partitioning to the product in the secondary flotation circuit was relatively small.

Underground

Health and safety, productivity and environment initiatives.

Recently Completed Projects

C34019Longwall Bretby Cable Handling Monitoring With Fibre Optics

This project examined the potential of using fibre optic sensing tec...

C27049Mine Machine Radar Sensor Integration

The aim of this project was to develop an integrated radar sensor an...

C29007Innovative Coal Burst System To Investigate The Influence Of Confinement Loss And Pre-Conditioning On Coal Burst Mechanism

The challenges associated with designing and operating a safe and pr...

Underground

Open Cut

Safety, productivity and the right to operate are priorities for open cut mine research.

Recently Completed Projects

C33035High Water Recovery, Low Cost Desalination Using PV-Powered Membrane Capacitive Deionisation (Mcdi)

Capacitive deionization is a robust, energy efficient and cost effec...

C28035Topsoil Deficits In Site Rehabilitation Accelerated Transformation Of Spoils To Functional Soils

The incorporation of commercial biological amendments (compost, worm...

C34036Tyre Handler Testing Rig Stage 2: Lifting Trials

Tyre handling is a major source of risk in surface mining operations...

Open Cut

Coal Preparation

Maximising throughput and yield while minimising costs and emissions.

Coal Preparation

Technical Market Support

Market acceptance and emphasising the advantages of Australian coals.

Recently Completed Projects

C34060In-Situ Investigation Of Coke Structure Formation Under Stamp Charged Coking Conditions

Stamp charged cokemaking has emerged as an effective technique to im...

C34062Improving The Classification Of Microstructure Distribution In Coke CT Images Using Deep Learning And Lineal Path Calculations

This project builds on a number of earlier projects that have helped...

C29071Source Of Variability Of Reactivity Of Coke In The CSR Test

The Coke Strength after Reaction (CSR) test is used worldwide to det...

Technical Market Support

Mine Site Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from the production of coal.

Recently Completed Projects

C28076Selective Absorption Of Methane By Ionic Liquids (SAMIL)

This third and final stage of this project was the culmination of a ...

C29069Low-Cost Catalyst Materials For Effective VAM Catalytic Oxidation

Application of ventilation air methane (VAM) thermal oxidiser requir...

C23052Novel Stone Dust Looping Process For Ventilation Air Methane Abatement

This multi‐phase project is concerned with the mitigation of m...

Mine Site Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Low Emission Coal Use

Step-change technologies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Recently Completed Projects

C17060BGasification Of Australian Coals

Four Australian coals were trialled in the Siemens 5 MWth pilot scale ga...

C17060AOxyfuel Technology For Carbon Capture And Storage Critical Clean Coal Technology - Interim Support

The status of oxy-fuel technology for first-generation plant is indicate...

C18007Review Of Underground Coal Gasification

This report consists of a broad review of underground coal gasification,...

Low Emission Coal Use

Mining And The Community

The relationship between mines and the local community.

Recently Completed Projects

C16027Assessing Housing And Labour Market Impacts Of Mining Developments In Bowen Basin Communities

The focus of this ACARP-funded project has been to identify a number...

C22029Understanding And Managing Cumulative Impacts Of Coal Mining And Other Land Uses In Regions With Diversified Economies

The coal industry operates in the context of competing land-uses that sh...

C23016Approval And Planning Assessment Of Black Coal Mines In NSW And Qld: A Review Of Economic Assessment Techniques

This reports on issues surrounding economic assessment and analysis ...

Mining And The Community

NERDDC

National Energy Research,Development & Demonstration Council (NERDDC) reports - pre 1992.

Recently Completed Projects

1609-C1609Self Heating of Spoil Piles from Open Cut Coal Mines

Self Heating of Spoil Piles from Open Cut Coal Mines

1301-C1301Stress Control Methods for Optimised Development...

Stress Control Methods for Optimised Development and Extraction Operations

0033-C1356Commissioned Report: Australian Thermal Coals...

Commissioned Report: Australian Thermal Coals - An Industry Handbook

NERDDC