Evaluation of Flotation Efficiency for Ela -Hanchano Coal in The Konta Zone, Southwestern Ethiopia Region, Ethiopia
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Date
2025-02
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The study focused on evaluating the efficiency of flotation processes in recovering coal from the Ela-Hanchano deposit in the Konta Zone of Southwestern Ethiopia. The work aims at improving recovery levels and upgrading the quality of coal by applying froth flotation, a physic-chemical method widely used for coal particles from associated impurities. This work considers critical parameters such as particle size distribution, the dosages of collector and frother, and their influence on flotation recovery, the grade of the concentrate, and the overall performance of coal beneficiation. Experimental work involved the preparation of coal samples through crushing and grinding, followed by sieving to the required particle size fractions (-500+250μm,-250+125μm and -75μm). Flotation tests were conducted using a laboratory flotation cell with kerosene as a collector and n-octanol as a frother. Recovery efficiency was evaluated at different reagent dosages and particle sizes. Proximate analyses were carried out to establish the physio-chemical characteristics of the treated coal, including moisture content, ash content, volatile matter, fixed carbon, sulfur content, and calorific value. Results showed that finer particle sizes significantly improved flotation recovery, and the highest efficiency was obtained as 87.58% for particles of under 75μm. The optimum collector (5ml) and frother (4ml) dosages improved the flotation process in terms of enhancing coal concentrate quality. Treated coal showed a reduction in ash content from 12.90% to 10.95%, a decrease in moisture content from 21.54% to 2.60%, and an increase in fixed carbon from 34.14% to 46.41%. The calorific value of the coal improved remarkably from 4,804.07 Cal/g (8,647.33 Btu/lb.) for raw coal and 6,418.15 Cal/g (11,552.67 Btu/lb.) for treated coal. This research underlines the importance of flotation parameters in the optimization of coal beneficiation and presents a framework that will help to improve the exploitation of Ethiopia’s coal resources.
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Keywords
Ela-Hanchano, Froth Flotation, Particle Sizes, Reagent Dosages, Recovery