Recovery of fine coal from coal preparation plants and tailings ponds by selective oil agglomeration

摘要

Environmental pressures are mounting over the practice of washery rejects disposal in tailings ponds and it is also recognised that reject fines are a valuable source of coal.Oil agglomeration has always been a potential candidate for fine coal recovery,but it has failed to see widespread use in the past,due mainly to the high cost of the oil.A hitherto unutilised source of low cost rejects oil was used successfully as an agglomerating agent in laboratory studies and favourable economics have been demonstrated.High yields of reduced ash coal have been obtained,with low oil to coal loadings.The oil is abundant,low in sulfur,ash and heavy metals,and has a low toxicity.