Dielectric properties of intrinsic moisture and flotability of coals of various rank

Online access for this thesis was created in part with support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the Nevada State Library, Archives and Public Records through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). To obtain a high quality image or document please contact the DeLaMare Library at https://unr.libanswers.com/ or call: 775-784-6945.The flotability of Argonne Premium coals varying in rank has been correlated with the intrinsic moisture content and dielectric properties of the intrinsic moisture. The moisture content of Argonne Premium coals varies from 32.24 for lignite to0.65 for high volatile bituminous coal. These measurements show that as the coal rank increases the intrinsic moisture and dielectric constant of the coal decrease. The nature of intrinsic water present in the coal of different ranks has been characterized using a dielectric mixture equation. The water present in lignite is different from that of sub-bituminous and bituminous coals. The dielectric constant of intrinsic water ranges from 27.4 for lignite to 3. 2 for low volatile bituminous coal. The intrinsic water present in lignite is tenaciously bound to the surface and has an oriented dipole structure whereas water present in low volatile bituminous coal has a non-oriented and clathrate ice-like structure. It is shown that flotability of coals of various ranks can be explained in terms of the nature and amount of the intrinsic water present in the coal. Thermal treatment can modify some of the structural property of intrinsic water present in the coal and increase the flotability of low rank coals