Assessment of Ovbiomu Coal for Industrial Application

Abstract

This research is to assess the quality of Ovbiomu lignite coal deposited for optimum utilization in metallurgical industries in Ovbiomu. Samples of coal were collected for analysis and sample was collected from five different stationary lots until 10 kilograms of the sample was collected and 500g was taken for characterization. The sample was reduced using jaw crusher and ball milled to a size of 1400μm and 1 kilograms of 1400μm was further reduced to 1100μm and was classified into various sieve sizes using mechanical sieve shaker. CalK2 bomb calorimeter was used to determine the calorific value of the head sample, the economic liberation size and the actual liberation size. The proximate analysis of the head sample and all the sieve sizes was done using Furnace, oven, porcelain crucibles, analytical balance, and desiccator to ascertain the individual carbon content. Ultimate analysis was done using XRD and concentration was done using froth flotation method. Result from sieve analysis shows that at 1000 μm, 710 μm, 500 μm, 355 μm, 250 μm, 180 μm, 25 μm, 90 μm, 63 μm, and -63 μm, the following weight was retained 1.45 g 1.86 g, 3.73 g, 3.5 g, 14.61 g, 48.28 g, 0.15 g, 0.17 g and 0.20 g respectively. The economic liberation size was found out to be 180um where most of the sample is retained and the actual liberation size was found out to be 125um but with a very small quantity retained. The results of the calorific value of the head sample and each of the sieve sizes of 250μm, 180μm, and 125μm, was determined to be 24.51MJ/Kg, 25.86MJ/Kj, 18.57MJ/Kg and 38.07MJ/Kg respectively, the following are result of percentage carbon content, for the Head sample (40.65%), 1000μm (29.55%), 710μm (38.53%), 500μm (42.43%), 335μm (35.42%), 250μm(43.07%), 180μm (30.92),125μm (63.40%) 90μm (0.56%) 63μm (0.62%) and -63μm (9.91%). The result of ultimate analysis of the sample shows Nitrogen (1.15%), Hydrogen (4.80%), Sulphur (0.13%) and Oxygen (29.56%).