Influence of alkyl polyglucoside and fatty alcohol ether sulfate on the foaming and wetting properties of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate for mine dust control

Abstract

Sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) was mixed with alkyl polyglycoside (APG) and fatty alcohol ether sulfate (AES) and a FoamScan foam analyzer and a proposed coal dust wetting method were used to test the foaming and wetting properties of various compound solutions. The foaming and wetting properties of the SDBS/AES and SDBS/APG compound solutions were optimal at the mass ratios of 0:1 and 1:2 respectively as the total mass concentration of the compound solution was 0.2%. Besides, the properties of optimal SDBS/APG compound solutions is better than optimal SDBS/AES compound solution. In addition to hydrophilic head, AES contains ether groups (C-O-C) which have lone electron pairs, it can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules and improve the water locking ability of the liquid film. Therefore, the pure AES solution has a better foaming performance than the SDBS/AES compound solution. For the SDBS/APG compound solution, the head groups of the SDBS (SO3−) have a better hydrophilicity than those of the APG (OH); therefore, the SDBS molecules are closer to water phase and the APG molecules are closer to the air phase. This arrangement could slow the diffusion of air and decrease the loss of water molecules, which ensures better foaming properties. Because the surface of the coal dust is electronegative, there is no electrostatic repulsion force between APG and coal dust surface, so APG molecules can be absorbed on the surface of coal dust more easily than SDBS. Since the anionic surfactant SDBS can carry more water molecules, the synergistic effects of the SDBS and APG molecules made the dust wetted in the shortest time.