Oil-assisted filtration of fine coal

An influence of oil additions (0–3% w/w) on the vacuum filtration of fine coal has been investigated. The results show that an oil addition of 1% can lead to a lowering of filter-cake moisture from 26% (wet basis) to 16% (wet basis). This considerable lowering of filter-cake moisture is accompanied by an increase in both filtration rate and solids pick-up rate. The results are qualitatively interpreted in terms of a flocculation process in which oil droplets condense at the particle contact points to form pendular bridges.