Experimental investigation of self-hardening foam-sol for controlling diffusion of static coal dust

Abstract

In this work, a self-hardening foam-sol (SHF) is proposed to control the diffusion of static coal dust. The SHF was mainly synthesized by a foaming solution (composed of 1 g/L polyethylene oxide (PEO), 25 g/L sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), 100 g/L sodium silicate and 874 g/L water) and organic acid with a concentration range of 10 to 13 g/L. Based on fluorescence spectrophotometry, drop shape analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, several conclusions could be found. The critical micelle concentration of SDS was 25 g/L, when most of the pyrene pendants were solubilized into the SDS micelles to form the hydrophobic mixed micelles, and excimer formation began to reach a maximum. The SHF had optimal wetting ability with the smallest contact angle of 17o, due to PEO-bonded water and SDS forming hydrogen and a dual adsorption layer, which could enhance the wetting ability of the SHF on coal dust surfaces. The SHF had the best accepted loss of liquidity time (180–86 s) and self-hardening time (236–121 s) via the reaction of sodium silicate and organic acid. The pores and cracks among dust particles could be linked closely by SHF via the solid bridge force. The primary components were silica and sodium carbonate with crystal water and hydrophilic CO and CO or O–C–O functional groups. Based on the dust suppression experiment, the dust suppression efficiency was almost 100% at airflow speeds below 12 m/s. Obviously, the dust particles could be controlled via their surfaces being covered by a layer of SHF, since the SHF has strong hydrophilic properties and the solid bridge force. In addition, vehicle-mounted SHF preparation equipment was designed.