A promising oil agglomeration process has been developed for the beneficiation of fly ash using a six-ft agglomeration column. Carbon concentrates have been isolated in recoveries greater than 60% and purities of 55-70%. The parameters studied include agitation speeds, airflow rates, slurry feed rates, solvent/ash ratios, and the use of various solvents as agglomerating agents. The effects of these variables on the quality of separation are discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.