Development and Utilization of Biodiesel from Cucurbita Pepo Seed as A Green Collector in Coal Flotation

Abstract

Recent advancements in coal flotation have witnessed a surge in renewable bio-based reagents, biodiesel derived from plant oils or animal fats, as promising sustainable alternatives to traditional petroleumbased collectors, raising environmental and resource depletion concerns. This study explores the potential of biodiesel, a renewable and biodegradable biodiesel derived from Cucurbita pepo seed oil, as a novel collector in the flotation of high-ash non-coking coal, a crucial feedstock for thermal power plants. The bio-collector was synthesized through transesterification of Cucurbita pepo seed oil, as a sustainable alternative to diesel, a conventional collector. Flotation studies were carried out using L9 Taguchi design of experiments to access the performance of bio-collector Cucurbita pepo seed biodiesel (CPBD) and to evaluate the influence of key parameters namely CPBD, Methyl Isobutyl Carbinol (MIBC) as frother, and Air Flow Rate (AFR). Results demonstrated that CPBD exhibited superior flotation performance compared to diesel, leading to improved yield (73.85%) and fixed carbon (53.81%) with reduced ash content of 13.23% from 32.5% at CFBD dosage of 11.73kg/t, MIBC dosage of 1.2kg/t with 1.5lpm of AFR. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed that CPBD possesses a higher concentration of long-chain unsaturated fatty acids than diesel, contributing to enhanced coal hydrophobicity. Contact angle measurements confirmed the improved hydrophobicity of coal surfaces treated with CPBD. This research highlights the potential of employing renewable Cucurbita pepo seed biodiesel as a collector to enhance coal industry sustainability by reducing reliance on petroleum-based chemicals, minimizing environmental impact, and fostering a balanced and environmentally conscious energy landscape.