Fossil Resin Flotation from Coal by Selective Coagulation and Depression of Coal
Natural resins are generally separated from coal by froth flotation. The resins are important commercially, being used for adhesives, varnishes, coatings, waterproofing, linoleum, etc. Extracting resin from resin-bearing coal is important in Western North America where certain cola fields contain significant quantities of resins. This invention describes fossil resin recovery from coal by a pH modified selective flotation process.Benefits
Most prior art flotation techniques for resin recovery have not been particularly selective. Both components of the feed, resin and coal, have similar hydrophobic characteristics. In this invention, the resins and the coal particles are separated by increasing the pH of the froth flotation process at a value of at least 12. The coal particles aggregate to one another allowing the remaining resin-rich particles to attach to the bubbles formed during the flotation process. Improved separation efficiency for resin flotation from coal was observed by the application of this invention. The resins command a substantially higher price per pound as a chemical commodity than as a fuel. The high grade resin concentrate produced by this selective flotation process is a preferred feedstock for subsequent refining since solvent consumption and filtration operations are reduced and are less expensive for concentrates obtained from most other flotation processes.
Stage of Development
A patent (US 4904373) has been issued from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. This technology is seeking partners for development-manufacturing-sales-etc of the working-final-etc product. It is available for developmental research support/licensing under either exclusive or non-exclusive terms.
Additional Info
*Yu, Q., Bukka, K., Ye, Y., Miller, J.D. Characterization of resin types from the Hiawatha seam of the Wasatch Plateau coal field Source. Fuel Processing Technology. 28(2), Jul, 1991, p 105-118
*http://www.mines.utah.edu/metallurgy/Faculty.html
Inventor(s): Qiang Yu, Jan Miller, Ye Yi
Type of Offer: Licensing
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