Characterization of carbon concentrates from coal-combustion fly ash

A study of carbon concentrates separated by a number of different commercial and laboratory methods from various coal-combustion fly ashes was undertaken to determine what common and unique chemical and physical properties can be expected in such concentrates. The properties were determined using a variety of physical and spectroscopic characterization methods and then were compared among the carbon concentrates and in two cases with the properties of the unprocessed fly ashes. The class F fly ashes originated from a total of seven different utilities burning bituminous coals and underwent one of six different processing methods to produce the carbon concentrates, which contained from 24% to 76% carbon. Three different configurations of triboelectrostatic separators were used to produce the carbon concentrates in addition to two different flotation methods plus a proprietary carbon recovery process. The results showed that unburned carbon concentrates from fly ash have properties similar to most carbon blacks and would be poor replacements for activated carbon in adsorption processes unless they are; activated in a separate step. The untreated carbon may have applications as a substitute for carbon black provided it could be obtained in sufficient purity. The results have implications for those who wish to use carbon concentrates from coal-combustion fly ashes in secondary markets,especially as sorbents and fillers.