| Summary: In this study, usability of waste vegetable oil and ultrasonic waves in oil agglomeration for coal cleaning was investigated. For this purpose, Muzret (Artvin- Yusufeli) coal containing high ash and sulphur, was subjected to oil agglomeration process by using waste sunflower oil. Effects of the parameters including solid content, waste oil dosage, stirring speed, agglomeration time, wash water amount, pH, coal particle size, and size of recovery sieve on the agglomeration performance were investigated. In addition, tests were undertaken to determine the effects of ultrasounds on the agglomeration process. It was observed that waste sunflower oil could be used successfully in oil agglomeration of coal and considerable amount of ash and pyritic sulphur could be removed from the coal. All of the investigated parameters were determined to effect the agglomeration performance. While the ultrasonic waves was observed to have positive effect on performance generally when they are used in order to change surface properties of coal, expected increase in performance was not achieved generally by using ultrasounds for better emulsification of the oil in the medium. Maximum combustible recovery, ash removal and pyritic sulphur removal was achieved to be 85%, 60%, 92%, respectively. Maximum seperation efficiency of ash and pyritic sulphur was 26% and 59%, respectively. These corresponded to the removal of 83% of pyritic sulphur with combustible recovery of 75% and removal of 57% of the ash with combustible recovery of 70%. |
