Abstract
ABSTRACT
Selective agglomeration of fine coal with oil is a physical coal cleaning process. It is not practiced on a large commercial scale due to the high cost of virgin oil. Used motor oil, a waste product, is a possible alternative, but it contains many toxic metals of environmental concern. Agglomeration with used motor oil solves a potential disposal problem while simultaneously enhancing the coal's thermal value. The fate of lead and cadmium contained in used motor oil was studied during agglomeration of Blue Creek coal at different oil treatment levels. The threshold oil dosage for successful agglomeration was determined. At the threshold oil dosage, 83% of the lead and 88% of the cadmium in the thickener underflow from the coal cleaning was rejected. Agglomerate lead and cadmium concentrations were observed to increase with increased oil dosage. It was concluded that lead and cadmium can be removed by agglomeration with used motor oil and the amount of oil used is an important factor affecting the trace metal content in the agglomerates.
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