Static-dynamic wetting characteristics and microscopic synergistic mechanism of compound surfactant on coal dust with different metamorphic degrees

Abstract

The compound surfactant has a synergistic effect on the wetting ability of coal dust. In the study, the wettability of compound surfactant on coal dust with different metamorphic degrees was studied from static wetting experiment, dynamic wetting experiment, and micro molecular simulation. The results showed that the contact angle of the anionic-nonionic compound surfactant solution on any coal sheet was significantly smaller than that of the single component, which was 14.04%～63.31% lower than that of the single component. The contact angle of the anionic-anionic compound surfactant on the six kinds of coal dust test pieces was not smaller than the contact angle of each single component, only a compromise of contact angle of single component. The dust suppression efficiency of the gas coal in 0.025 wt% fatty acid methyl esters ethoxylate sulfonate (FMES) and 0.025 wt% coconutt diethanolamide (CDEA) compound solution was the highest, which was 78.4%. Lignite coal, long flame coal, non-caking coal, coking coal, and anthracite all have the highest dust suppression efficiency when sprayed with 0.025 wt% sodium alcohol ether sulphate (AES) and 0.025 wt% CDEA, which were 91.53%, 88.24%, 85.7%, 73.25%, and 80.57%, respectively. For any metamorphic degree of coal sample dust, the anionic-nonionic compound surfactant shows obvious synergistic effect on improving the wettability of coal dust. Furthermore, when the surfactant is adsorbed on the surface of coal molecules, the concentration of water molecules on the surface of coal molecules is increased, the hydrophilicity of the solid–liquid interface is improved, and the water molecules are more intensely diffused on the surface of coal dust. And the absolute value of the adsorption energy of the surfactant on the surface of the coal dust is higher, and the more hydrogen bonds formed by the hydrophilic groups, the better the wettability of the coal dust surface.