Surface characteristics and wetting mechanism of respirable coal dust

In this study, FTIR and XPS spectroscopy, specific surface area and pore size analyses, wetting and other experimental means have been applied to investigate respirable coal dust surface properties and wetting mechanism. The research shows that coal dust surface structures, chemical and element compositions are changed in the refining process of coal dust. Compared with large particle coal dust, respirable coal dust is a weak hydrophilic and strong hydrophobic substance. The reason: the smaller the particle size of coal dust, the more unsaturated its surface. The absorption of air is strong and it is easy to form an air film on coal dust surfaces. Coal dust contact with water is actually a compound contact of liquid in contact with a solid and gas in contact with a solid. The smaller the particle size, the larger the pore volume and the higher the degree of surface roughness, the larger the area of gas in contact with a solid and the worse the coal dust wettability. Another reason is that the changes in the composition of atoms on the dust surface and structures affect coal dust wettability. The results of this study establish a theoretical basis for the invention of effective reduced-dust technology.