Physical and physicochemical cleaning of lignite and the effect of cleaning on biodesulfurization

• Published in: Fuel (Guildford) Vol. 132; pp. 158 - 164
• Main Authors: Aksoy, Derya Oz, Aytar, Pınar, Toptaş, Yağmur, Çabuk, Ahmet, Koca, Sabiha, Koca, Hüseyin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 15-09-2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biodesulfurization; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Flotation; Fuels; Lignite cleaning; Multigravity separator; Flotation; Biodesulfurization; Multigravity separator; Lignite cleaning; Lignite
• ISSN: 0016-2361; 1873-7153
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2014.04.090

•Microbial desulfurization by an original strain as a complementary approach was applied.•Sulfur contents of MGS and flotation concentrates were decreased 54.39% and 47.08%, respectively.•Ash contents of MGS and flotation concentrates were decreased 67.61% and 60.95%, respectively.
In this work, physical, physicochemical and biological processes were combined to decrease the sulfur and ash content of finely ground coal. Two separation methods – flotation and a multigravity separator (MGS) – were studied to determine the optimum conditions of separation. The results showed that it is possible to obtain clean lignite that contains 34.36% ash and has a 77.39% combustible recovery by using MGS and 39.22% ash with a 37.38% combustible recovery by using flotation techniques. When the MGS and flotation products were treated by biological methods, the total sulfur contents of lignite were reduced by 54.39% and 47.08%, respectively, whereas the ash contents of MGS and flotation product were decreased by 67.61% and 60.95%, respectively.