163 Effect of Air Velocity, Ph and Frother Concentration on Vitrinite Recovery Using Column Flotation Efecto De La Velocidad
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Ingeniería y Competitividad, Volumen 15, No. 2, p. 163 - 170 (2013) CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Effect of air velocity, pH and frother concentration on vitrinite recovery using column flotation INGENIERÍA QUÍMICA Efecto de la velocidad del aire, pH y concentración de espumante sobre la recuperación de vitrinita usando flotación en columna § J. Piñeres*, J. Barraza**, A. Blandon*** *Programa de Ingeniería Química, Universidad del Atlántico, Barranquilla, Colombia **Escuela de Ingeniería Química, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia ***Universidad Nacional de Colombia, sede Medellín, Colombia § [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] (Recibido: 16 de Abril de 2013- Aceptado: 10 de Septiembre de 2013) Abstract Coal macerals can be separated using flotation process by taking advantage of differences in their surface properties. In this work, the effect of pH, air velocity (Jg) and frother concentration (FC) on the vitrinite separation of two coal samples from Colombia, Cerrejón and Jagua was studied. The experimental runs were carried out by flotation column at pH ranging from 4 to 10, FC from 2 to 6 ml of frother/kg of coal and Jg from 0.7 to 2.1 cm/s Jg. Results showed that both coals exhibited vitrinite recoveries above 60% at pH 5, Jg 1 cm/s and FC of 3 ml/kg of coal. For Cerrejón coal, the highest vitrinite recovery (63.55%) was obtained at pH 7, Jg 0.7 cm/s and FC of 4 ml de frother/kg of coal, whereas for Jagua coal, the highest vitrinite recovery (69.80%) was obtained at pH 4, Jg 1.4 cm/s, and 4 ml of frother/kg of coal respectively. It was also noted that both coals exhibited the highest value of vitrinite recovery at acid conditions compared with those obtained using basic conditions. Keywords: Flotation column, mass yield, vitrinite concentrates Resumen Los macerales del carbón se pueden separar usando procesos de flotación aprovechando las diferencias de sus propiedades superficiales. En este trabajo, se estudió el efecto del pH, la velocidad del aire (Jg) y la concentración de espumante (FC) sobre la separación de vitrinita de dos minas de carbones del Cerrejón y Jagua (Colombia). Las corridas experimentales se realizaron en una columna de flotación usando pH en el rango de 4 a 10; FC en el rango 2 a 6 ml de espumante/kg de carbón y Jg en el rango de 0.7 a 2.1 cm/s. Los resultados mostraron que ambos carbones presentaron recuperación de vitrinita superiores al 60% a pH 5, Jg 1 cm/s y FC 3 ml/kg de carbón. Para el carbón Cerrejón, la mayor recuperación de vitrinita (63.55%) se obtuvo a pH 7, Jg 0.7 cm/s and 4 ml de espumante/kg de carbón, mientras que para el carbón Jagua, la mayor recuperación de vitrinita (69.80%) se obtuvo a pH 4, Jg 1.4 cm/s and 4 ml de espumante/kg de carbón respectivamente. Se observó también que ambos carbones presentaron los más altos valores de recuperación del grupo vitrinita a condiciones acidas en comparación con las obtenidas a condiciones básicas. Palabras claves: Columna de flotación, rendimiento másico, concentrados de vitrinita 163 Ingeniería y Competitividad, Volumen 15, No. 2, p. 163 - 170 (2013) 1. Introduction Sarkar (1984). In our laboratory, Barraza & Piñeres (2005) studied the effect of pH and frother The vitrinite maceral represents one of the concentration on vitrinite maceral concentrates most important maceral in coal, due to its high using Colombian coals from south west region of reactivity in coal transformation processes. the country. It was noted that the vitrinite maceral Vitrinite has high reactivity towards carbonization in floats is higher than the feed coal, whereas and liquefaction process, where collotelinite liptinite, inertinite and mineral matter are lower. submaceral would likely be responsible Vitrinite maceral concentration, dry-mineral for this reactivity. Experimental studies on matter free basis, obtained is close to 100%. gasification and combustion show that both, ignition temperature and burning rate depend on Information on vitrinite concentrates from vitrinite reflectance, ICCP (1998). Vitrinite is a Colombia coals in a wide range of pH is scarce maceral group composed of polycyclic aromatic to using flotation column. Some works (Honaker compounds, which are very attractive as chemical 1996, Barraza & Piñeres 2005) obtained float feedstock to produce valuable chemical specialties coal fractions having high concentration of and polymers, Schobert & Song (2002), and to be vitrinite maceral using a flotation process in transformed into liquid through the coal-to-liquid basic conditions. The objective of this flotation (CTL) technology, Longwell et al., (1995). study was to study the effect of pH (acidic and basic conditions), air velocity (Jg) and The vitrinite maceral can be concentrated frother concentration (FC) on vitrinite maceral by flotation, heavy media separation and concentration of two Colombian coal samples. agglomeration process, flotation being highly selective in order to separate vitrinite due it 2. Experimental utilizes very fine bubble, Sarkar (1984), Honaker & Mohanty (1996). Vitrinite can be separated Two Colombian coals, Cerrejón (Guajira) and by flotation process by taking advantage of Jagua (Cesar) were used in this study. Coals were differences in its hidrophobicity compared to crushed in a ball mill to a particle size of -38 μm liptinite and inertinite macerals, Sun (1954). The to liberate vitrinite maceral (according to the air velocity (Jg), pH, and frother concentration results obtained of the liberation study). Creosote (FC) play an important role in vitrinite recovery oil, sodium lauryl ether sulfate 28% w/w, sodium using flotation column. It is well known that the hydroxide (NaOH) 1.7M and hydrochloric acid slurry pH changes the hydrophobicity of maceral (HCl) 3.3M reagent grade were used as a collector, particles due to alter their electrostatic energies, frother and pH modifiers respectively. Campbell et al., (1970). Jg has big effect on the maceral production and selectivity, whereas FC A flotation column of 5 m height and 0.05 m increases the mass yield, producing a more stable diameter was used. A single separation stage was froth. carried out using a slurry concentration of 2.5 % w/w and a collector concentration of 3.4 kg/t of There are a few studies that have shown the effect coal. Air velocities ranging from 0.7 to 2.1 cm/s of Jg, pH and FC on vitrinite recovery using were used. The pH and the frother concentrations flotation column at pilot scale in the last years. were used in the range 4 to 10 and 2 to 6 ml of Honaker & Mohanty (1996) showed that pH has frother/kg of coal respectively. All runs were a great significant influence on the floatability carried out using a single separation stage. The of the individual macerals. Xinqian et al (2002) tails flow was adjusted according to air flow, found differences between the properties of guaranteed a constant interface level at 23 cm vitrinite and inertinite which rise to the possibility above the feeder position, while the frother mixed of separating single macerals by flotation process, with air, was added by means of a peristaltic 164 Ingeniería y Competitividad, Volumen 15, No. 2, p. 163 - 170 (2013) pump at a flow of 42.2 ml/min. Details of the Table 1. Proximate and petrographic analysis of raw coal flotation column operation are reported by Piñeres samples & Barraza (2012). Analysis (db) Cerrejón Jagua Volatile Matter, % w/w 29.17 38.99 A 23 factorial central composite experimental design, Montgomery (1999); was used in this Ash, % w/w 18.53 3.94 work, where the effect of the conditions used in Sulphur, % w/w 1.41 1.00 column flotation on vitrinite recovery for two coal Fixed Carbon, % w/w 50.89 57.50 samples were evaluated. Independent variables HV (KJ/kg) 23.644 32.122 selected for the experimental design were the pH Vitrinitemmf, % v/v 77.3 65.0 of the slurry, frother concentration and the air Liptinite, % v/v 6.9 12.4 velocity (with which it adjusts of air flow). Details Inertinite, % v/v 15.7 22.5 of the experimental design are reported by Piñeres & Barraza (2012). db: dry basis, mmf; mineral matter free The pH was chosen as the independent variable flotation process used is selective for separating by its influence on coal surface properties, while the mineral matter of the organic matter. It can the frother concentration and air velocity were be seen that the lowest ash percentage (2.32% selected because of their influence on the hydraulic for Jagua and 4.12% for Cerrejón) was obtained of the column flotation and the bubble diameter. at pH 7, Jg of 1.4 cm/s, and FC of 6 and 4 ml of The experimental error is based on repeated frother/kg of coal respectively. experiments at the central points of experimental design and was ± 5%. It can be observed from Tables 2 and 3 that for both coals the mass yield was obtained in the 3. Results and discussion range of 21 to 54%. For the Jagua coal, the highest mass yield it was 54.55% and for Cerrejón coal 3.1 Coal analysis was 53.44%, both obtained at pH 5 and 7, Jg 1.0 Table 1 shows the proximate and petrographic and 0.7 cm/s, and FC 3 and 4 ml of frother/kg of analysis of raw coals. Cerrejón coal presented coal respectively. Those results may be associated higher ash and sulphur content, whereas Jagua with an increased coal hidrophobicity obtained coal showed higher heat high value. In general, at these pH conditions, improving the rate of both coals have high vitrinite content (<65% particle - bubble adhesion.