An investigation into beneficiation of Jordanian El-Lajjun oil shale by froth floatation

作者：Al Otoom A Y^*

来源：Oil Shale, 2008, 25(2): 247-253.

DOI：10.3176/oil.2008.2.06

Oil shale is available in Jordan in large quantities with high proportion of minerals. This study presents an investigation in order to enhance oil recovery from Jordanian El-Lajjun oil shale, which represents a major local deposit area. This enhancement was attempted through decreasing the content of minerals by the method of froth floatation using different floatation and frothing agents. The effect of the type of agents, the concentrations of these agents, and the effect of particle size were also investigated. Jordanian El-Lajjun oil shale has shown a poor separation propensity (floatability). Particle size and type of frother did not have any impact on the efficiency of oil shale recovery. A maximum recovery of 3% was achieved when using fuel oil as a collector and methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC) as a frother in the froth floatation process. It is believed that kerogen causes wetability of oil shale particles during preparation of oil shale hindering floatability of oil shale. On the other hand, phosphates and calcite were found to be easily separable from Jordanian oil shale using froth floatation. A degree of separation of more than 99% has been achieved when using kerosene as a collector and MIBC as a frother.

• 出版日期2008