Optimisation of
process parameters for coal flotation using statistical technique
Gharai Mousumi, Cassandra Austen I., Kumari Ajita, Vasumathi N. and Vijaya Kumar
T.V.
Disaster Advances; Vol. 18(5); 42-49;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/185da42049; (2025)
Abstract
The ash content present in coal plays an important role in determining the quality
or grade of the coal for its utilization in different industries. The maximum ash
content allowed for steel grade I is 15%, while steel grade II requires ash content
ranging from 15% to 18%. A sample of coking coal analysing 26.32% ash was subjected
to froth flotation to reduce its ash content to below 18%. Optimization of flotation
process parameters such as collector, frother dosages and airflow rate, was carried
out using factorial design of experiments.
It was observed that the interaction of collector and frother dosages had the most
significant impact on achieving the desired ash rejection, with collector dosage
also playing an important role. Optimum process parameters identified are collector
dosage of 0.0348 kg/t, 0.005 kg/t frother dosage and 2 lpm airflow rate, wherein
the ash content of the sample was reduced to 14.58% from 26.32%.
