Surface Modification Mechanism of Fine Coal by Electrochemical Methods

In order to reveal the surface modification mechanism of fine coal by electrochemical methods, the structural changes of the coal surface before and after electrochemical modification were investigated by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectra (FTIR) and Raman Spectra. The results show that under certain electrochemical conditions, the oxygen-containing functional group in the coal structure and the oxygen content of absorption could be reduced and the floatability of coal improved. At the same time, the sulfur in the coal was reduced to the hydrophilic S2- which could be separated easily from coal. Thus electrochemical modification methods could be used to change the structure and functional group on the coal surface and to enhance the floatability of coal.