Effect of hydroxyl position in reagent molecule on coal dust dedusting

Using the high-speed motion acquisition system, we studied the adhesion ability and wetting ability of coal dust under the effect of four octanol solutions. The adhesion ability followed the order: 2-Octanol > 4-Octanol > 1-Octanol > 3-Octanol. The wrap angle of coal dust on the octanol surface exhibited an increasing trend with the rise in coal proportion of dust. The observed behavior was substantiated by the interaction force, ascertained through molecular dynamic simulations. The interaction force between coal dust and 3-Octanol was the smallest leading to the weakest adhesion ability by the 3-Octanol solution. The contact angle of octanol solution droplet at the coal dust surface under the same octanol concentration was investigated to follow the order: 2-Octanol > 4-Octanol > 1-Octanol > 3-Octanol. The wetting velocity decreased as the coal proportion of dust increased. The wetting ability followed the order: 2-Octanol < 4-Octanol < 1-Octanol < 3-Octanol. The surface energy of dust increased as the coal proportion decreased. The dedusting efficient under the effect of octanols depended on the difference in surface energy between the coal dust and the octanol solution. The greater the Delta gamma (difference be-tween the surface energy of the dust and solution), the weaker the adhesion ability, and the stronger the wetting ability. The findings of our study can offer valuable insights for the development of dedusting reagent design.