Title: Cleaning of Dukki (Baluchistan) coal by oil agglomeration process

Authors: Usman Rafaqat; Javaid Akhtar; Naseer Uddin Sheikh; Shahid Munir

Addresses: Centre for Coal Technology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan ' Centre for Coal Technology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan ' Centre for Coal Technology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan ' Centre for Coal Technology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract: Cleaning of coal fines by oil agglomeration is an efficient technique by which an appreciable recovery of combustible matter and significant reduction in ash forming minerals are possible. In this study, oil agglomeration process has been employed to clean indigenous coal under the influence of parameters such as oil type, particle size and the pH value of aqueous medium. As agglomerant, castor oil, canola oil proved to be successful, giving 75% and 64% yields of agglomerates, respectively. The gross calorific value increased from 4,903 Kcal/Kg to 6,257 Kcal/Kg while using canola oil whereas the reduction in ash content was found to be 66%. Consequently the agglomeration process was found to be quite effective for Dukki coal in enhancing its gross calorific value and reducing its ash content. [Received: November 11, 2013; Accepted: April 3, 2014]

Keywords: coal fines; oil agglomeration; combustible matter; coal ash; sulphur; vegetable oil; coal cleaning; oil type; particle size; pH value; castor oil; canola oil; gross calorific value.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2015.066948

International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, 2015 Vol.9 No.1, pp.79 - 88

Received: 20 Nov 2013
Accepted: 03 Apr 2014
Published online: 18 Mar 2015 *

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