Studies on the Effect of Variation of Flocculant Dosage on the Flocculation of Some Indian Bituminous Coals

Animaesh Kumar Mishra and D. P. Pandey*

Department of Chemistry, Satish Chandra College, Ballia - 277 001 (India)

Experimental results of the study on the effect of variation of flocculant dosage of the polymeric flocculants (HPAM, Praestol and Truefloc) on the flocculation of East Busseriya, Sudamdih and Singrauli coals of Jharia coalfields are reported. These results suggest that flocculant dosage greatly affects the flocculation behaviour of coalfines, the maximum settling rate being achieved in the flocculant dosage range 3 – 5 ml. Of the three flocculants (HPAM, Praestol and Truefloc) used, the hydrolysed polyacrylamide (HPAM) flocculant is found to be most effective for causing maximum flocculation of the coals. Flocculation is higher for cooking coals in comparison with non-cooking coals containing relatively high % of ash. The higher values of settling rate in case of high rank East Busseriya and Sudamdih cooking coals in comparison with low rank Singrauli coals are explicable on the basis of ash content in these coals. The results of flocculation of coal particles have been explained on the basis of the

Flocculant dosage; Indian bituminous coals