Investigation of mechanism of ultrasound on coal flotation

Coal flotation studies were carried out in ultrasonically assisted flotation cells. Representative hard coal slime samples from Prosper-Haniel Coal Preparation Plant located in Bottrop, Ruhr Region of Germany were used for this purpose. A Wemco type flotation cell was fitted with transducers and tests were carried out at variable frequency and power. The reagent for coal flotation was Ekofol-440 with variable dosages during conventional and ultrasonic flotation experiments. The results showed that ultrasonic coal flotation yields more combustible recovery and lower ash values in concentrates than conventional flotation by using similar reagent dosages. These results are explained on the basis of efficient surface cleaning of the coal particles.