Basic Study on Separation of Pyrite from Coal by Flotation Using Ferric Solution

Abstract

Flotation behavior of coal and pyrite was investigated by bubble pick-up tests and Hallimond tube flotation. Flotation recovery of coal and pyrite was high in the acidic region and decreased with increasing pH. In solutions containing iron species the recovery of pyrite decreased drastically at pHs where iron hydroxide was precipitated, but coal flotation was not influenced. Zeta potentials of pyrite and iron hydroxide precipitates were measured under various conditions and the formed precipitates were characterized by XRD, FTIR, and settling velocity measurements. The precipitates formed at the pH where depression of pyrite flotation occurred were very fine sized amorphous ferric hydroxides, which preferentially adhered on pyrite surfaces and rendered pyrite hydrophilic. Selective flotation of artificial high sulfur coal (mixture of coal and pyrite) was performed in the following three solutions containing ferric iron adjusted to pH 2.5 : a) prepared with ferric sulfate, b) prepared by oxidizing ferrous sulfate with iron-oxidizing bacteria (Thiobacillus ferrooxidans), and c) prepared by centrifuging the solution of b). In all solutions coal was selectively recovered as a froth product with high combustible recovery and high separation efficiency.