TIME-CONTROLLED PROCESSES FOR AGGLOMERATING COAL

摘要

Methods of recovering agglomerated particles of coal from a composite of coal and mineral matter. If necessary to reach an appropriate top size, the raw coal can be ground. In any event the raw coal is mixed with an appropriate carrier to form an aqueous slurry. The raw coal may then be comminuted in the aqueous slurry until resolved into separate, particulate phases of coal and mineral matter although this step is unnecessary if the coal has a top size of not more than 0.6 mm and if an ultrapure product coal is not required. Next, an agglomerant is mixed with the slurry; an additive is incorporated into the slurry to control the agglomeration time and/or water content of the product coal and/or to insure that the coal particles will agglomerate; and the slurry is agitated until the coal particles have separated from the aqueous carrier and the mineral matter dispersed in the carrier and coalesced into agglomerates which are recovered from the slurry.