COAL-OIL AGGLOMERATION AND COMBUSTION STUDIES FOR A BITUMINOUS COAL POND TAILING

The poor quality of coal tailings used as one of the feeds in a coal-p ower generation station can lead to combustion problems. A coal-oil ag glomeration technique has been tested as a possible option to treat th e feed in order to improve the quality. The recovered coal from this a gglomeration/flotation treatment had a significantly reduced ash conte nt and increased calorific value. Char reactivity was determined using thermogravimetry and results show no difference in reactivity between the raw and treated coal tailings feed. Evolved gas analysis performe d during the thermogravimetric runs also showed no significant differe nce in the evolved gases except for an increase in volatile hydrocarbo n release. The final product would lead to improved flame stability an d reduced mechanical and ash-handling problems.