Maceral Partitioning through Beneficiation of Illinois Basin Coals

Coals from 28 Illinois Basin preparation plants, primarily in western Kentucky, were studied for maceral partitioning around several unit operations. Consideration was also given to two sets of plants with similar designs; in one case cleaning the same seam and in the other case cleaning three different seams. More consistent maceral partitioning was exhibited in the finer fractions than in the coarse coal with the fine clean coal being enriched in vitrinite and the fine refuse being enriched in fusinite plus sernifusinite.Comparison of coals prepared through similar operations indicated that a significant difference existed in the maceral partitioning both between different coals cleaned in one plant and between the same coal seam (different mines) beneficiated through similar design plants. The petrographic characteristics of each coal appear to be site specific and include inherent factors, such as maceral—mineral associations, as well as factors imposed during mining.