Multi product beneficiation of non-coking coal from eastern coalfields—a case study

Abstract

The wide variations in nature and type of Indian coals formed during lower Gondawana period and categorized as high ash due to its typical mineral matter association with the organic matrix call for suitable beneficiation techniques as the preferred option for quality upgradation. The huge available resources of non coking coal of Eastern Coalfields Limited, a subsidiary of Coal India Limited are being presently used for power generation. Options may be looked into for the utilization of these coals in industries like sponge iron, cement etc., after judicious beneficiation. In this paper, an attempt has been made to focus the eco-friendly approach for total utilization of the ‘high ash’ non coking coal of Eastern Coalfields Limited. The paper highlights detailed investigations carried out on high ash non-coking coal sample having about 40% ash content, by systematic washability investigations followed by computer simulation of washability data for prediction of practical yields at 20% ash level by heavy medium separation processes respectively. The concept basically involves multi product beneficiation of raw coal to two/three saleable products at different ash levels, specifically suitable for industries like, Cement and FBC Power Plants.