Study on the synergistic effect of surfactant composite on foam wetting and stabilization in the process of foam dust reduction

• Published in: Journal of environmental chemical engineering Vol. 13; no. 2; p. 115674
• Main Authors: Zhang, Jiangshi, Wang, Kai, Jia, Hongfu, Wang, Yanan, Ren, Xiaofeng, Jia, Yulu, Tong, Linquan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2025
• Subjects: Compounding ratio; Foam stabilization; Molecular dynamics; Surfactant; Wettability; Compounding ratio; Molecular dynamics; Wettability; Foam stabilization; Surfactant
• ISSN: 2213-3437
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2025.115674

Foam dust suppression technology is increasingly utilized to mitigate dust pollution in semi-open environments, such as open-pit coal mines, due to its high efficiency, low water consumption, and strong anti-interference capabilities. However, the effects of combining anionic and nonionic surfactants on foam characteristics and interfacial properties remain inadequately understood. This study investigates composite foam dust suppressants with varying ratios of sodium dodecyl sulfate (MSDS) and alcohol ethoxylates (AEO-5) through Walker sedimentation experiments and Telics foam scanner analysis. Additionally, molecular dynamics simulations provide insights into the gas-liquid interface dynamics and interaction mechanisms. Key findings reveal that at an AEO-5:MSDS ratio of 48:24, the solution achieves the lowest interfacial tension of 28.2 mN/m, the fastest coal dust settling time of 119 s, and optimal foam performance with a volume of 134.7 mL. The uniform distribution of surfactant molecules at the gas-liquid interface enhances foam stability against disturbances, demonstrating a synergistic effect between AEO-5 and MSDS. A positive correlation between solution wettability and foam performance is observed; however, within similar compounding ratios, an "indirect" relationship emerges, where identical wettability can result in varying foam performance, and vice versa. These findings provide theoretical and technical guidance for optimizing foam dust suppressant formulations and their application in semi-open environments, contributing to improved dust control strategies in industrial operations. •Studied synergistic effect of AEO-5 and MSDS composite foam dust suppressant on foam performance and solution wettability after Min-Max Normalization.•Molecular dynamics simulations were used to explore the interaction between surfactants and water at different proportions at the microscopic scale, and to reveal the variation law of the interface properties of composite foams.•Found optimal AEO-5:MSDS ratio of 48:24 for best foam characteristics and coal dust wettability.