Enhancement in hydrophobicity of low rank coal by surfactants — A critical overview

The flotation of fine (− 0.5 mm) low rank or oxidized coal is difficult to achieve with the common coal flotation collectors like kerosene, fuel oil or diesel oil (oily collector). The presence of small amounts of oxygen is enough to cause oxidation. The oxidation of coals starts with the physical adsorption of oxygen on the surface to form an oxycomplex followed by chemical adsorption of oxygen to form polar phenolic–OH, carbonyls, phenols and peroxide type oxygenated moieties by the rupture of cyclic rings. The addition of promoter, surfactant or oxygenated functional groups to the collector molecule markedly enhances the flotation of lower rank and oxidized coals due to the hydrogen bonding with the polar part of the coal surface and the reagent. The performance of these reagents is compared with that of oily collectors, namely kerosene, dodecane, nonylbenzene and polar part of the surfactant having an oxygen atom. The mode of addition of non-ionic surfactant with oily collector also has a major role in the flotation response. The addition of non-ionic surfactant after the oily collector has shown a positive effect on yield and grade.