Abstract: In methods for producing agglomerate particles from aqueous slurries containing from about 10 to about 40 weight percent solids, the solids comprising finely divided carbonaceous solids and finely divided inorganic solids, by mixing the aqueous slurry with oil in a first mixing zone to form a mixture and thereafter further agitating the resulting mixture in at least one other mixing zone to produce agglomerate particles containing the carbonaceous solids and the oil and recovering the product agglomerate particles, an improvement comprising (a) separating finely divided inorganic solids from the aqueous slurry after removal of the product agglomerate particles therefrom; (b) thereafter separating smaller agglomerates of carbonaceous solids and oil from the aqueous slurry after separation of the product agglomerate particles and the inorganic solids therefrom; and (c) recycling the smaller agglomerates to the second mixing zone.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing a coal slurry from a raw coal feedstock which contains coal and gangues. The process optimizes coal recovery, coal quality and the hydraulic characteristics of the pipeline slurry.