In order to prevent coal dust explosions, this study developed a targeted environmentally friendly and efficient lignin-based explosion inhibitor. The effects of NaHCO3, NH4H2PO4, and lignin-based explosion inhibitors on the sensitivity parameters of coal dust explosions were investigated using a 20 L spherical vessel and a Hartmann tube for comparison. Furthermore, the explosion inhibition mechanisms of the three inhibitors were elucidated through SEM, conductivity, In Situ FTIR, TGA-DTG/DSC, and other testing methods. The results indicate that from the perspective of explosion sensitivity, ZA-L-NP exhibits better explosion inhibition effects than NaHCO3 and NH4H2PO4. The zeolite carrier of the composite explosion inhibitor has a fine porous structure, with some materials filling the pores of the zeolite, resulting in a rough surface of ZA-L-NP. The use of ZA-L-NP for explosion suppression has a minimal impact on the turbulent combustion rate of coal dust. Its poor conductivity provides an advantage in inhibiting coal dust explosions. All three inhibitors exhibit significant inhibitory effects on the OH functional groups in coal dust, with inhibition effects decreasing in the order of ZA-L-NP, NH4H2PO4, and NaHCO3. Using classical kinetic models, the activation energy (E) and pre-exponential factor (A) of coal dust with and without added explosion inhibitors were calculated. Analysis was conducted from the perspective of kinetic parameters such as mass residual, maximum burning rate, average burning rate, flammability discrimination index, and comprehensive combustion characteristic index. It was found that the zeolite and modified lignin (L-NP) in ZA-L-NP synergistically increased the activation energy of coal dust. The research results can provide theoretical basis for the effective prevention of coal dust explosions.