Dependence on coal as a fuel of choice for energy production in the future necessitates development of efficient environmentally friendly fine coal cleaning technologies for coal utilization. These technologies have application in active mines as well as for refuse pond carbon recovery. This study involved development and demonstration of an integrated fine coal recovery circuit incorporating some of the newest advances in cleaning, dewatering and refuse management technologies. Studies were conducted on two refuse pond samples from the Illinois No. 6 and Pittsburgh No. 8 seam coals. An integrated circuit operation treating the Pittsburgh No. 8 sample resulted in the production of a less than 6% ash content product at a mass yield of 60%. In addition to the ability to achieve higher efficiency of separation, this circuit has the ability to provide a consistent product quality even for moderate changes in the feed.
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