FLOAT-SINK TEST
General Information
Coals are processed to obtain the coal product called clean coal of required ash. Coal
washing is a process by which mineral matter is removed from coal by the use of anyone
of several washing processes to leave the coal as near mineral-free as is required. As the
mineral matter is associated with the coal substance, the degree of cleaning possible with
any coal, therefore, depends upon the distribution of its ash forming constituents.
The coal particles of lower ash are separated from coal particles of higher ash. As the
density of coal particle depends on its ash: low-ash coal particles have low density and
high-ash coal particles have high density.
Separation of coal particles of different densities in the laboratory called “float and sink”.
Float and sink test is based on the difference in specific gravity of coal particles. This test
determines how much coal can be separated from rock and minerals in fluids of different
densities, and This test method describes procedures for determining the washability
characteristics of coarse and fine coal fractions. Washability of coal means amenability
of coal to improvement in quality by beneficiation techniques. Solutions or suspensions
of different densities are used for the separations. The coal has relatively low density or
specific gravity (1.2 to 1.5) compared to other rocks such as shale (2.4 to 2.8) or minerals
such as pyrite (4.9 to 5.2). Organic or inorganic heavy liquids such as bromoform,
tetrabromoethane, zinc chloride or sodium polytungstate.
In this test method, liquids covering a range of specific gravities in incremental steps are
prepared and the representative sample of coal is introduced into the liquid of highest
specific gravity. The float product is removed and placed in a liquid of next lower specific
gravity; whose float product is then transferred to the next lower specific gravity. All the
sink products and the final float product are collected, dried, weighed, and analysed. The
analysis is usually made for ash and sulphur content but is frequently extended to include
heating value and other variables.
Experimental Procedure
1- Preparation of sample: Prepare coal samples by sieving in narrow particle fraction.
Wash and air dry the coal samples.
2- Preparation of solutions: Calculate the amount of water and heavy liquid to obtain
required densities.
3. Feed the coal to the first cell (highest density)
4. Take the floats and sinks (use the strainer)
5. Feed the floats to the next cell
6. Continue this process until the series finished
7. Dry the sinks and floats product
8. Weigh and analyse the products
Questions
Float and sink test results are given in table below. Answer the following questions using
the data provided.
1- Calculate the cumulative weight and ash percentage of total float and total sink product.
2- Calculate the separation density and floats yield for 12% ash product.
Specific Gravity Material Between Sp. Gr.
Fraction
(g/cm3) Weight Ash
(g) (%)
-1.40 656.55 9.28
+1.40-1.50 146.70 20.96
+1.50-1.60 75.30 30.68
+1.60-1.70 43.20 39.24
+1.70-1.80 29.70 46.97
+1.80-1.90 24.30 54.32
+1.90-2.00 26.40 60.42
+2.00 497.85 84.00
Σ 1500.00
Solution: (1)
Cumulative Float Cumulative Sink
Specific (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
Gravity Ash Cumulative Cumulative Cumulative Cumulative
Weight Weight Ash Cumulative Cumulative
Fraction Product Ash Ash (%) Ash Ash (%)
(g) (%) (%) Weight (%) Weight (%)
(g/cm3) (2)x(3) Product (6)/(5) Product (9)/(8)
-1.4 656.55 43.77 9.28 406.19 43.77 406.2 9.3 56.23 3547.31 63.09
+1.40-1.50 146.7 9.78 20.96 204.99 53.55 611.2 11.4 46.45 3342.32 71.96
+1.50-1.60 75.3 5.02 30.68 154.01 58.57 765.2 13.1 41.43 3188.31 76.96
+1.60-1.70 43.2 2.88 39.24 113.01 61.45 878.2 14.3 38.55 3075.30 79.77
+1.70-1.80 29.7 1.98 46.97 93.00 63.43 971.2 15.3 36.57 2982.30 81.55
+1.80-1.90 24.3 1.62 54.32 88.00 65.05 1059.2 16.3 34.95 2894.30 82.81
+1.90-2.00 26.4 1.76 60.42 106.34 66.81 1165.5 17.4 33.19 2787.96 84.00
+2 497.85 33.19 84 2787.96 100 3953.5 39.5
Σ 1500 100
Calculation steps
Column 1 and column 3 are the results of float and sink test.
1 Weight of products measured in each specific gravity range
2 Percentage of products measured in each specific gravity range
3 Ash percentages calculated by analysis in each specific gravity range
4 (Column 2 x Column 3)
5 Cumulative of column 2 relative to float product
6 Cumulative of column 4 relative to float product
7 (Column 6 / Column 5)
8 Cumulative of column 2 relative to sink product
9 Cumulative of column 4 relative to sink product
10 (Column 9 / Column 8)
Solution: (2)
For 12 % ash product → Separation specific gravity 1.54
Yield of floats 55.33 %
