Determination of the wetting angle using gas bubble method

Abstract

Most of the technological processes of coal mining and primary processing (transportation, crushing, and enrichment) depend on the physical and chemical properties of the external surface of coal particles. When determining the wetting angle — the wettability characteristics of the coal surface — the method of preparing the working surface of the sample and the choice of the measurement procedure (a drop of liquid on a solid surface or fixing a gas bubble on the surface of coal placed in water) are of great importance. We present the results of determining the contact angle of wetting using an air bubble. The working surface was prepared by briquetting a powdered sample. Scanning electron microscopy and laser diffraction analysis of the particle size distribution were used for surface characterization and fractional analysis of carbon particles. It is shown that the contact angle of wetting depends on the particle size, mineral composition of coal, and pressing pressure. At the same time, when determining the wetting angle, the optimal particle size and pressing pressure of the briquette are <100 μm and ~500 MPa, respectively. The obtained results can be used to improve technologies for mining, conversion and dressing of coals.