Mechanistic study on the significant difference in flotation collector consumption of different coal gasification fine slag

Froth flotation, a prevalent technique for the separation of fine materials, is employed in the decarburization process of coal gasification fine slag (CGFS). This process is known to consume significant quantities of reagents. This study investigates the pronounced variance in collector consumption during the flotation decarbonization of two distinct CGFS samples, where a tenfold difference was observed when the tailings ash content surpassed 95%. A comprehensive set of analyses, including XPS, BET, SEM, wettability tests, LF-NMR and IGC-SEA, was conducted on the residual charcoal from CGFS to elucidate the mechanism behind reagent consumption. The findings reveal that the reagent's ability to alter the surface hydrophobicity of residual charcoal is contingent upon the adsorption saturation of micropores and transition pores. Furthermore, variations in porosity and surface energy significantly impact collector consumption, independent of differences in the type and quantity of oxygen-containing functional groups. This investigation aims to provide a theoretical framework for reducing the dosage of reagents in the flotation decarburization of CGFS.