DEMINERALIZATION OF A BITUMINOUS COAL BY FROTH FLOTATION BEFORE OBTAINING ACTIVATED CARBONS

A Spanish bituminous coal has been demineralized by froth flotation. T he effect of the particle size, solution pH, and the presence of elect rolytes on the process yield has been investigated. The ash contents o f the clean coal have been reduced by between 1.5-3 times with regard to the corresponding feed coal. Three activated carbon samples have be en obtained by steam activation of the floated coal. These activated c arbons have been texturally characterized by means of N-2, CO2 and ben zene adsorption. The results obtained with these three adsorptives are very similar, which indicates that the microporosity of the activated carbon samples is accessible to the molecules of the above compounds. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science