Influence of flotation reagents on force of separation of coal particles from air bubbles

Development work undertaken by the 'Kuznetskaya' Central Experimental Flotation Plant on present-day methods of recovery of waste water, enabled the quantity of recycled water to be increased from 1800 to 4000 m3/h. As a consequence, the solids concentration of the flotation feed was reduced from 145 to 70 kg/m3, and the relative efficiency of the process increased fro 76.6 to 88.0%, with an overall improvement in the operation of the plant. The discharge of coal to the outdoor settling pond was reduced. The treatment of run-of-mine coal was increased from 3488 to 4540 thousand tons per year, with a 2.4% increase in the output of concentrates and a reduction in the loss of coal with the flotation tailings, due to an increase in the ash content from 62.9 to 70.6%. The net cost of the beneficiation process was reduced by 60 kopecks/ton of saleable product.