Air-promoted oil agglomeration of moderately hydrophobic coals. 1. General characteristics

Aqueous suspensions of moderately hydrophobic Colchester Seam coal from Illinois were treated with heptane or hexadecane in a laboratory mixing unit which produced a moderate shear rate. Under these conditions air had to be present to produce compact, nearly spherical agglomerates. The yield of agglomerates increased with both oil dosage and mixing time. Conditions which produced a high yield of agglomerates also achieved the best separation of a mixture of Colchester coal and kaolin particles when the agglomerates were recovered subsequently by screening.