Analysis of Intermolecular Complexes of Coal’s Organic Mass in the Search for Composite Flotation Reagents

Abstract

Cyclic oxygen-bearing compounds and products of petroleum processing are considered as potential composite reagents. In searching for highly effective composite reagents differing in structure and elementary composition, one possible criterion is the energy of the hydrogen bond in intermolecular complexes between the reagent and the coal’s organic mass. The hydrogen-bond energy in intermolecular complexes between the reagent (cyclic siloxanes) and the coal’s organic mass is much higher than that in intermolecular complexes between water and the coal’s organic mass. That is responsible for the reagents’ high flotational activity. The use of distillation residues from the production of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane improves the extraction of combustible mass in the concentrate in comparison with that currently attained at coal-enrichment facilities. In addition, the reagent consumption is decreased. Products of petroleum processing whose group chemical composition includes cyclic organosilicon compounds are recommended for industrial tests at Russian coal-enrichment facilities.