TY - JOUR AU - Dwari, Ranjan Kumar AB - The present paper outlines the characterization, electrokinetic behaviour, and flotation response of rejected coking coal fines with 32.5% ash generated in a coal washery in Eastern India. The response methodology and central composite rotatable design (RSM‐CCRD) were used for the process modelling and optimization of the flotation process using diesel, methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC), and sodium hexametaphosphate as a collector, frother, and depressant to maximize ash reduction, yield, and combustible recovery. At optimum condition, a 9.7% clean ash coal was achieved with a 63% yield at collector, frother, and depressant dosages of 0.78, 0.31, and 0.80 kg/ton, respectively. The model prediction and experimental data corroborated sufficiently. Subsequently, within 1 year, the fines oxidized and did not float with the collector. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed surface oxidation on oxidized coal. The oxidized coal responded favourably to acid oil, a vegetable oil refinery waste. With acid oil as a collector, the oxidized coal can upgrade to 12% clean ash coal with a 60% yield; the combustible recovered is 80%. The work indicates successful upgradation of fresh and oxidized coal using the froth flotation process. TI - Flotation response of coal washery reject fines: Characteristics, process optimization, and oxidation JO - The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering DO - 10.1002/cjce.24799 DA - 2023-06-01 UR - https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/wiley/flotation-response-of-coal-washery-reject-fines-characteristics-95gT7GRQ1D SP - 3074 EP - 3093 VL - 101 IS - 6 DP - DeepDyve ER -