Arq Ltd, an innovator in recovery and transformation of coal waste into an entirely new source of high-value energy, recently installed eight 18 ft Eriez® CavTube flotation columns in its first commercial facility located in Corbin, Kentucky.

The Arq process converts fine coal waste into Arq Fuel™, a high value, microfine hydrocarbon with an average particle size of less than 5 microns and less than 1% mineral matter that can be blended into oil products. Arq Fuel™ behaves like oil without the costs of the oil industry.

Eriez’ CavTube columns, which are especially effective for the recovery of ultra-fine particles, are an integral component of Arq’s micro separation process.  The cavitation tube sparging system – known as CavTubes^® – features a design based on hydrodynamic cavitation. “This novel approach results in nucleation of ultra-fine bubbles on the particle surface which act to facilitate flotation kinetics by improving subsequent attachment of larger bubbles for separation. As a result, the flotation rate of ultra-fine particles is greatly improved.”

Eriez Flotation USA Director of Operations Andrew Hobert explains, “In addition to the benefit of our cavitation tube sparging technology, column flotation cells offer superior metallurgical performance due to the use of both wash water and a deep froth phase.” He adds, “In the Arq application, these advantages minimise entrainment of ultra-fine mineral matter into the froth product.”

Tom Tudor, Arq’s Head of Brand and Communications, says, “Arq are able to transform an environmental liability into a cleaner, more efficient source of low cost energy through the innovative application of world class technologies from multiple industries.”