Oil agglomeration and its effect on beneficiation and filtration of low-rank/oxidized coals

Low-rank/oxidized coals respond poorly to oil agglomeration. Emulsification of kerosene in the presence of surfactants dramatically reduces the size o f the kerosene droplets, lowering the consumption of kerosene needed to agg lomerate oil down to 0.25-0.5%. Surfactants can also entirely change the in teraction between oil droplets and coal particles. Consequently, kerosene c ationic emulsions can efficiently agglomerate oxidized coal particles. The agglomerates obtained in such a process can still be recovered by screening . (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.