Beneficiation of High Ash Indian Coal-Problems and Prospects

Abstract

India has got 192 billion tonnes of coal reserves but majority are of high ash. Due to intimate mixing of ash forming minerals with coal seams, beneficiation of such coal results in poor separation efficiency. This paper deals with the available resources of coal, their chara-cteristics and problems associated with beneficiation of high ash Indian coals. The present coal cleaning practice is discussed with a reference to studies carried out at NML. The different emerging coal beneficiation techno-logies are discussed.The need of development and adoption of suitable technology and modification of the existing washeries are emphasized.