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The coal cleaning technology is based on that the coal is lighter than its associated rocks and impurities. Coal
cleaning method can be physical or chemical. Pyritic sulphur of about 30 to 50% and approximately 60% of ash
forming mineral can be removed. As a result of washing, SO2 emission can be decreased about 50% after washing
in an ideal condition.
In Baluchistan, there are mainly six mining areas which produce coal and coal mining is in progress. These are
Khost, Harnai, Pir Ismail, Duki, shahrig, Sor Rang and Ziarat. Recently mining areas are Mach and chamalang.
Experimental coal is from degari coal field. Environmental pollution is caused due to the impurities of coal. It
contains Sulphates, Calcite, Pyrite, Ca2CO3, Oxides which combine with silica to form complexes. It tends to form
coal ash. Clinkering temperature is decreased because of the presence of sulphate in the coal. In proximate
analysis of coal of Degari the Ash, Moisture, Volatile matter, Fixed Carbon, Calorific value and Sulphur was done.
Fig 1 Raw coal and coal after wash ability by float and sink method.
proximate analysis of raw coal was done in which the following test have been done moisture, ash, volatile
matter, fixed carbon, calorific value and sulphur. The wash ability of coal was shown by the graph showing the
result of series of float and sink tests [9]. The coal washing process depends on the physical property variations i.e.
it depends on the specific gravity and wetting characteristics of coal which make it easy to wash or difficult to
wash. After millions of years passed the coal which is derived from vegetable debris is firm sedimentary, brittle,
combustible rock. The quality of coal varies with the rank from peat to lignite, from lignite to bituminous, from
bituminous to semi–anthracite and from semi-anthracite to anthracite. About 63.26% of coal is utilized for
electricity production in Pakistan.
The coal when comes from mining consist of many impurities like magnesium sulphate, sulphur in form of pyrites,
slate and fire clay. These materials have higher specific gravity than the pure coal which is 1.28 or 1.30. The coal is
purchased on different specification like Ash content, Sulphur and size. Therefore the coal must be screened to
size. The International Energy agency (IEA) reported that about 60% of demand will grow to next 30 years in the
developing countries [1].
Environment is polluted by the burning of low grade coal which contains silica, pyrite, calcite, sulphate, oxide
which form complexes upon reacting with the other minerals. It tends to form coal ash, known as high ash content
which is difficult to clean [6]. As energy demand is increasing day by day, so there is a need for cleaner energy
without pollution to maintain environmental sustainability. The coal industry recognizes when it meet the
challenges of environmental sustainability and reduce the Greenhouse gases. The coal is basically plant debris. It
is difficult to wash the coal contain thin bans of coal rather contain the proportion of bright coal. Finely divided
plant degradation products have the fine ash then the bright coal. This ash is basically the structurally part of coal
itself and cannot be separated by mechanical means.
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ISRAJIF (2017): 4.011 | Indexcopernicus: (ICV 2016): 64.35
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International Journal of Innovative Research in Advanced Engineering (IJIRAE) ISSN: 2349-2163
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The ash forming content can be removing in laboratory by float and sink method. Coal from mines have all type of
densities present, it can be divided into the lightest fragments of bright coal to the heaviest coal particles of shale
and pyrite. The coal differs due to material present there. This factor determines in large degree of responsibility
of coal beneficiation by washing. The ordinary coal washing processes effect the separation between coal and its
impurities on the basis of their specific gravities. The possibilities of coal washing is to separate the raw coal
mixture into coal and impurity by immersing it in a solution with specific gravity intermediate between that coal
and impurity. The portion of coal divided into floats and sink portions. The portion of the sample with specific
gravity less than that of solution is floats portion. The sink portion with the specific gravity more than that of
specific gravity of solution. The coal separation take place in number of portion depends on different specific
gravity, each made up of particles of restricted range of differences in specific gravity. Such separation has been
found most useful in coal washing and known as specific –gravity analysis [2].
The float and sink separation method into specific gravity fraction entirely depends upon the differences in
specific gravity of particles. Settling and stratification inhibition in coal washing depends on the important factor
of shape. Float and Sink method is an ideal and perfect separation method that can be approached as a limit in
practice by coal washing machines [3].
The moisture content of sample affects the float and sink operation because of its dependence on specific gravities.
The apparent specific gravity of coal depends on the moisture and air held within the coal sample. Specific gravity
varies with the moisture content. It also influence the results obtained by float and sink test. Therefore the sample
is completely air dried before the float and sink test [4].
The ordinary coal-washing processes effects the separation between coal and impurity because of the difference
in specific gravities of these components. In studying the possibilities of improving the coal by washing, it has
therefore long been common practice to separate the raw coal mixture into coal and impurity by immersing it in a
solution with specific gravity intermediate between that coal and impurity. The portion of the sample with specific
gravity less than that of the solution floats and the portion with the specific gravity more than that of the solution
sink. By the use of series of such solutions, each of successively higher specific gravity, a sample of coal may be
separated into a number of portions, each made up of particles of restricted range of differences in specific gravity.
Such a separation has been found most useful in coal-washing and has been called “specific-gravity analysis” [6].
The ordinary coal –washing process effects the separation between coal and impurity because of the difference in
specific gravities of these components. The portion of the sample with specific gravity less than that of the
solution that float and the portion with the specific gravity more than that of the solution is sink. Combustible can
be separated by the best crushing of the coal which results in the liberation of large amount of combustibles [7].
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
IJIRAE: Impact Factor Value – SJIF: Innospace, Morocco (2016): 3.916 | PIF: 2.469 | Jour Info: 4.085 |
ISRAJIF (2017): 4.011 | Indexcopernicus: (ICV 2016): 64.35
IJIRAE © 2014- 18, All Rights Reserved Page–288
International Journal of Innovative Research in Advanced Engineering (IJIRAE) ISSN: 2349-2163
Issue 08, Volume 5 (August 2018) www.ijirae.com
C. Experimental Procedure
About 1000g coal sample of 5 different sizes were accurately weighed by a digital balance. Solution having
different specific gravity varying from 1.25 to 1.4 is prepared by using ZnCl2. The prepared solution was taken in
beakers and arranged in the order of increasing specific gravities (1.25, 1.3, 1.35, 1.40). The sample is first placed
in the lowest specific gravity liquid. The fraction higher than the liquid floats and heavier ore sinks. The portion
which floats on a particular specific gravity known as float fraction and the portion which sinks are known as sink
fraction. In this way, the float and sink fractions of different specific gravities are collected and weighed, taking
care that no coal particles are lost. For determination of the ash content, ASTM methods were implied. The results
were tabulated for analysing the wash ability characteristic of the coal samples. The wash ability curves were
plotted taking total floats vs. ash, total sinks vs. ash [8]. When the coal sample is heated under specified conditions,
then it classifies the tests into four groups: moisture; volatile matter, fixed carbon; Ash, the inorganic residue
remaining after combustion; Calorific Values. ASTM methods were followed for testing of coal. Calorific Value was
calculated by using bomb calorie meter.
Weight recovery of coal on different mesh sizes and solution with different specific gravities are as follows. 90 %
of weight recovery was done which have maximum calorific value 13565 Btu at mesh size of -3/4+1/2.
TABLE II- RESULTS OF COAL AFTER FLOAT AND SINK METHOD BY WEIGHT RECOVERY ON DIFFERENT SIZES
Specific gravities -1+3/4 -3/4+1/2 -1/2+3/8 -3/8+4 -4+10
Float Sink Float Sink Float Sink Float Sink Float Sink
1.25 88 904 80 915 106 876 114 880 150 822
1.30 456 540 602 396 584 410 681 269 610 360
1.35 790 208 800 195 782 212 793 182 785 195
1.40 895 100 900 100 870 126 838 137 847 123
1) Sample 1:
TABLE III- CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF SINK AND FLOAT COAL OF SIZE -1+3/4
Size -1+3/4 Specific Moisture Ash % Volatile Fixed Calorific value
gravity % Matter% Carbon% BTU
F 1.25 2.50 10.35 48.46 40.96 11162
S 2.59 10.58 49.11 40.54 10949
F 1.3 2.41 6.14 50.03 43.83 11993
S 2.58 16.20 44.60 39.20 9678
F 1.35 2.48 5.61 48.65 45.74 12720
S 2.49 32.24 38.50 29.26 6472
F 1.4 2.64 5.98 49.62 44.40 12765
S 2.51 35.80 36.90 27.30 5613
At mesh size of -1+3/4 the range of moisture, Ash, V.M, F.C is about 2.41-2.64%, 5.61-35.80 %, 36.90-50.03%,
27.30-45.75% at 1.3 specific gravity of solution respectively. Quality of coal was determined by the fixed carbon
and volatile matter percentage. Coal having maximum calorific value shows is 12765.
2) Sample 2:
TABLE IV- CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF SINK AND FLOAT COAL OF SIZE -3/4+1/2
Size-3/4+1/2 Specific Moisture Ash % Volatile Fixed Calorific value
gravity % Matter% Carbon% BTU
F 1.25 2.52 10.21 49.67 40.12 11218
S 2.65 10.87 48.2 40.92 11647
F 1.3 2.56 4.94 50.92 44.14 12173
S 2.61 15.02 44.81 40.17 10786
F 1.35 2.50 5.08 49.06 45.86 12502
S 2.48 41.81 34.58 23.61 6017
F 1.4 2.39 5.62 48.15 46.23 13565
S 2.44 41.48 35.90 22.62 5163
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
IJIRAE: Impact Factor Value – SJIF: Innospace, Morocco (2016): 3.916 | PIF: 2.469 | Jour Info: 4.085 |
ISRAJIF (2017): 4.011 | Indexcopernicus: (ICV 2016): 64.35
IJIRAE © 2014- 18, All Rights Reserved Page–290
International Journal of Innovative Research in Advanced Engineering (IJIRAE) ISSN: 2349-2163
Issue 08, Volume 5 (August 2018) www.ijirae.com
3) Sample 3:
TABLE V- CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF SINK AND FLOAT COAL OF SIZE -1/2+3/8
Size -1/2+3/8 Specific Moisture Ash % Volatile Fixed Calorific value
gravity % Matter% Carbon% BTU
F 1.25 2.58 10.79 48.72 40.49 11028
S 2.51 9.98 49.12 40.90 10928
F 1.3 2.44 4.51 50.13 45.18 12473
S 2.32 14.29 46.41 39.30 10876
F 1.35 2.28 5.58 49.82 44.60 12521`
S 2.48 28.62 38.44 32.94 8723
F 1.4 2.46 5.35 50.52 44.13 12838
S 2.40 25.60 43.02 31.38 8565
At mesh size of -3/8+4 have moisture in range of 2.14-2.34%.maximum 2.34% and minimum 2.14 %moisture
were at specific gravity of 1.25and 1.30 respectively. Sink coal obtained at specific gravity of 1.35 have maximum
ash content 36.24%. Volatile matter of coal range from 33.53-47.64%. Maximum value of V.M is 47.64% at specific
gravity of 1.35 of float coal. F.C is between 28.42-48.53%. Maximum calorific value is 13168 at specific gravity of
1.4.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
IJIRAE: Impact Factor Value – SJIF: Innospace, Morocco (2016): 3.916 | PIF: 2.469 | Jour Info: 4.085 |
ISRAJIF (2017): 4.011 | Indexcopernicus: (ICV 2016): 64.35
IJIRAE © 2014- 18, All Rights Reserved Page–291
International Journal of Innovative Research in Advanced Engineering (IJIRAE) ISSN: 2349-2163
Issue 08, Volume 5 (August 2018) www.ijirae.com
The moisture, ash, V.M, F.C having range of 2.08-2.40%, 5.27-38.02%, 32.69-47.49% and 29.29-47.49%
respectively. The maximum calorific value which is obtained is 12690 btu.
IV. CONCLUSIONS
Five mesh sizes of -1/2 +3/8,-3/8+4,-1+3/4,-3/4+1/2 and -4+10 have been prepared after screen testing. The
four specific gravity solutions were prepared for carrying out the wash ability studies of Degari Coal of
Baluchistan by ZnCl2 which were as follows 1.25, 1.3, 1.35, and 1.4 respectively. The washability studies of Degari
Coal have been completed.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
IJIRAE: Impact Factor Value – SJIF: Innospace, Morocco (2016): 3.916 | PIF: 2.469 | Jour Info: 4.085 |
ISRAJIF (2017): 4.011 | Indexcopernicus: (ICV 2016): 64.35
IJIRAE © 2014- 18, All Rights Reserved Page–292
International Journal of Innovative Research in Advanced Engineering (IJIRAE) ISSN: 2349-2163
Issue 08, Volume 5 (August 2018) www.ijirae.com
The results showed that the Calorific Value of Degari Coal have been up-graded to 13565 btu/lb which was earlier
9875btu/lb and the Ash content is reduced from 50% down to 30% with an increase in Fixed Carbon about up to
4%. The maximum recovery of 90% was obtained during the float sink of -3/4”+1/2” on 1.40 specific gravity
solution. The results which were obtained 2.39, 5.62, 48.15, 46.25,13565 and 3.36 were moisture, ash, volatile
matter, fixed carbon, Calorific value and Sulphur respectively. The weight recovery on the specific gravity solution
is 90% with the maximum calorific value of 13565.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
All authors are thankful to ministry of science and technology PCSIR laboratories Quetta for providing all facilities
to complete the project and for providing all support during the completion of project.
REFERENCES
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IJIRAE: Impact Factor Value – SJIF: Innospace, Morocco (2016): 3.916 | PIF: 2.469 | Jour Info: 4.085 |
ISRAJIF (2017): 4.011 | Indexcopernicus: (ICV 2016): 64.35
IJIRAE © 2014- 18, All Rights Reserved Page–293