GB193947A - Improvements in or relating to the drying and treatment of finely divided carbonaceous matter - Google Patents

Abstract

193,947. Broadbridge, W., Edser, E., Stenning, W. W., and Minerals Separation, Ltd. Nov. 29, 1921. Flotation processes.-A modification of the process described in Specification 155,875 for treating finely divided coal or other carbonaceous material associated with water consists in suspending the material in sufficient water to make a mobile pulp and subjecting it to vigorous agitation, preferably with aeration, with a flocculating agent such as an anthracene oil, coal tar, or other hydrocarbon liquid, which does not act as a binding medium, in quantity insufficient to form an amalgam but sufficient to coat the particles and flocculate them, after which the flocculated particles are separated from the water and rendered substantially dry by draining or filtration with or without the assistance of pressure but without the production of durable briquettes, the process being preferably carried out at atmospheric temperature. The concentrates may then be coked in a retort, the tarry residue from which may be utilized as the flocculating agent in treating further quantities of the material. When treating coal that has not been previously separated from gangue, the gangue particles are not coated with the flocculating agent and remain suspended in the water with which they are separated from the masses of flocculated coal by draining. Froth flotation treatment may be carried out in a similar manner by using a flocculating agent which contains a small proportion of frothing agents. In this case the coal is floated in the froth and the uncoated gangue remains in the water. Specifications 6863/04, 10475/05, and 151,236 are referred to.