Fish Waste Valorization to Produce Bio-Oil as A Collector for Eco-Friendly Coal Flotation

Fish waste, often discarded in the fishing industry, leads to environmental pollution if not properly
managed. Valorization of fish waste helps reduce this waste, contributing to cleaner ecosystems and more
sustainable practices. Coking coal, a critical non-renewable resource for steel production, faces stringent
quality requirements, with specific ash content limits for different grades i.e. Steel Grade I requires less
than 15% ash while Grade II allows 15-18%. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of utilizing fish
waste-derived oil (FWO) as a novel bio-collector in the flotation of coking coal to produce various steelgrade
coals. This approach aligns with the growing need for sustainable resource management, where
the utilization of waste products from one industry can contribute to the efficient and environmentally
responsible utilization of another. Flotation tests were carried out using FWO as collector and methyl
IsoButyl Carbinol (MIBC) as frother at varying air flow rate (AFR) using Factorial design of experiment.
The results demonstrated FWO’s selectivity in enhancing coal surface hydrophobicity and achieving
significant ash reduction. Optimal flotation conditions were determined: for steel grade-I, 1 l/t FWO,
0.35 l/t MIBC, and 2 lpm AFR yielded 44.92% clean coal recovery at 14.62% ash; and for steel grade-II, 1
l/t FWO, 0.85 l/t MIBC, and 1 lpm (AFR) achieved 55.3% recovery at 15.98% ash, demonstrating FWO’s
potential for improving coal quality. This research, by demonstrating the efficacy of fish waste-derived
oil as a bio-collector, offers a promising sustainable alternative to petroleum-based collectors, addressing
environmental concerns related to their non-biodegradability while valorizing fish waste.