Method of separating carbonaceous compounds from particulate coal containing inorganic solids.

摘要

Carbonaceous components are separated from particulate coal containing inorganic solids by agitating and aerating the coal, agglomerating oil and water to form agglomerates of carbonaceous components of the coat and oil with air trapped in the agglomerates. The air trapped in the agglomerates makes them buoyant so that they collect at the surface of the water, for easy removal, while inorganic residual solids collect at the bottom of the water. The inorganic solids containing coal may originally be in the form of a slurry with the water (Figures 1 and 2) or may comprise previously formed agglomerates which are broken down by the agitation to form a slurry (Figure 3). In the latter case the process is for removal of inorganic solids which were not removed during the initial agglomeration. The agitation may be accomplished by a stirrer (2, Figure 1), impeller (16, Figure 2; 30, Figure 3) or a pump (54, Figure 4).