Patent ID: 8875898

Claim:
A froth flotation process for the beneficiation of coal, comprising: adding an effective amount of a collector to an aqueous slurry of coal, wherein the collector comprises a fatty acid monoester of a polyol, a fatty acid diester of a polyol, or a mixture thereof, wherein the fatty acid of the fatty acid monoester and the fatty acid of the fatty acid diester are derived from a crude tall oil; subjecting the aqueous slurry of coal containing the collector to froth flotation, wherein the collector contains at least 90% by weight of the fatty acid monoester of a polyol or a fatty acid diester of a polyol or mixtures thereof and the aqueous slurry of coal containing the collector when subjected to froth flotation contains less than 10 wt % of fatty acid triglycerides, based on the weight of the collector, and wherein the aqueous slurry of coal containing the collector is substantially free from fuel oil when subjected to froth flotation; and separating a floated material comprising a beneficiated coal.