Technique for Determining the Potential Recovery of Carbon from Flyash

In the search for utilization of unburned carbon from flyash, flotation has been considered by many as a possible method for reclaiming the carbon. Due to the ever-increasing need to minimize landfill materials and reutilize waste streams, NETL has reviewed flyash flotation techniques in an effort to develop a methodology for determining the floatability potential of the carbonaceous material. This methodology was employed on a flyash generated from the Reliant Energy Shawville power plant. A variety of variables were adjusted in order to delineate their effects on the flotation potential of this flyash. The variables included pH, ultrasonic treatments, collector conditioning, promoters and dispersants. The techniques utilized clearly show which variables were the most important in optimizing the flotation potential for this flyash.