A pilot-scale flotation column to produce beneficiated coal fractions having high concentration of vitrinite maceral

A pilot-scale flotation column was used to produce beneficiated vitrinite-rich fractions from two coal samples from south western Colombia, Guachinte and Yolanda. The coal samples of less than 38 μm in size were processed in the flotation column at pH ranging from 7 to 11 using various concentrations of a particular frother. Results showed that, using a single stage separation, maximum mass yield of float fractions was 84.6% w/w for Guachinte coal and 55.5% w/w for Yolanda. The maximum ash removals were 71.7 and 76.5% for Guachinte and Yolanda coals, respectively. This corresponds to sulphur removals of 63.2% for Guachinte coal and 75.4% for Yolanda coal. The highest concentration of vitrinite was obtained using Yolanda coal. It was in the order of 99.8% at neutral pH and when using the highest frother concentration. This result is the highest concentration of vitrinite maceral reported in the literature using a pilot-scale flotation column.