Application of central composite design method to coal flotation: Modelling, optimization and verification

In this study, collector dosage, frother dosage, solid ratio and air flow rate that can be effective parameters on the combustible recovery and ash content of clean coal and their interactions in flotation are described with a mathematical model by using statistical design method. The test results have shown that both models obtained for ash content and combustible recovery were found to be statistically significant, and also the effects of collector and frother dosage on the response variables are found to be higher than those of other parameters. Additionally, verification experiments at optimum conditions proposed by the models were done to determine the validity and adequacy of the predicted models. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.