Contact angle measurements on lignite surface

Abstract

Froth flotation has been widely used for cleaning and desulfurisation of coals for many decades all over the world. There is a close relationship between floatability of minerals and contact angle. Therefore surface hydrophobicity of lignite surface was investigated by receding contact angle measurements in the presence of various flotation reagents. The water contact angle values at the lignite surface was measured in the solutions of Kerosene, Diesel Oil, Fuel Oil, Montanol 400, Montanol 800, Methyl Isobutyl Carbonyl (MIBC), Orfom MCX, Orfom MCO, Molyflo, Flotanol B and combinations of them at different pH values. Kerosene and MIBC combination positively affected hydrophobicity of lignite surface, and the contact angle values increased up to 37.66 degrees.