Molecular simulation study on effect of mine water hardness on foam stability

Mine water contains a large amount of hard water ions, and as the main water used in foam dust suppressants, its water hardness is crucial to the dust removal efficiency and economic costs of foam dust suppressants. In order to study the variation law and microscopic mechanism of foam stability infl...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Qinggang LU, Kai WANG, Honghu HUANG, Yi LIANG, Jiangshi ZHANG, Yanan WANG, Yulu JIA, Yunfei LIANG
Format: Article
Language:zho
Published: Editorial Department of Coal Science and Technology 2025-06-01
Series:Meitan kexue jishu
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mtkxjs.com.cn/article/doi/10.12438/cst.2024-0642
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849434047496847360
author Qinggang LU
Kai WANG
Honghu HUANG
Yi LIANG
Jiangshi ZHANG
Yanan WANG
Yulu JIA
Yunfei LIANG
author_facet Qinggang LU
Kai WANG
Honghu HUANG
Yi LIANG
Jiangshi ZHANG
Yanan WANG
Yulu JIA
Yunfei LIANG
author_sort Qinggang LU
collection DOAJ
description Mine water contains a large amount of hard water ions, and as the main water used in foam dust suppressants, its water hardness is crucial to the dust removal efficiency and economic costs of foam dust suppressants. In order to study the variation law and microscopic mechanism of foam stability influenced by mine water hardness, molecular simulation was employed to investigate the effects of mine waters containing different concentrations of Ca2+, Mg2+, and Na+ on the stability of foam liquid films. Taking a foam system composed of anionic surfactant Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (MSDS) and nonionic surfactant Alkyl Ethoxylate (AEO-5) in proportional blending as the research object, the variations in surface tension, interface thickness, radial distribution functions, diffusion coefficients, and hydrogen bonds, which are microscopic characterizations, were thoroughly analyzed. The study reveals several findings. Firstly, the interfacial tension of foam systems increases with higher concentrations of Ca2+ and Mg2+, particularly under conditions of high water hardness where foam stability is weakest due to thinner interfaces. Secondly, analysis of radial distribution functions and diffusion coefficients indicates that the oxygen atoms of surfactant head groups are crucial for foam stability, with O1‒3 exhibiting three times greater water adsorption capability compared to O4. In the presence of Ca2+, O1‒3 and O4 exhibit stronger water binding capacities within the foam. Thirdly, different ion types exert varying effects on foam stability. Under conditions of moderate to high water hardness and in the presence of Mg2+, the average hydrogen bond length between O1‒3 and water molecules is shorter than that observed with Ca2+, suggesting stronger hydrogen bonding in Mg2+-containing foams. Conversely, under high water hardness conditions, the average number of hydrogen bonds between O1‒3 and water molecules is fewer and their average bond length greater than in Ca2+-containing foams, indicating enhanced hydrogen bonding strength in Ca2+-based systems at high water hardness. These results deepen our microscopic understanding of how mine water hardness influences foam stability, elucidating microstructural changes and interactions among surfactant molecules and water within foam liquid films.
format Article
id doaj-art-4e11e97d9c1045de8732b0622b7e18d6
institution Kabale University
issn 0253-2336
language zho
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Editorial Department of Coal Science and Technology
record_format Article
series Meitan kexue jishu
spelling doaj-art-4e11e97d9c1045de8732b0622b7e18d62025-08-20T03:26:48ZzhoEditorial Department of Coal Science and TechnologyMeitan kexue jishu0253-23362025-06-0153S151952810.12438/cst.2024-06422024-0642Molecular simulation study on effect of mine water hardness on foam stabilityQinggang LU0Kai WANG1Honghu HUANG2Yi LIANG3Jiangshi ZHANG4Yanan WANG5Yulu JIA6Yunfei LIANG7SDIC Hami Energy Development Co., Ltd., Hami 839000, ChinaSchool of Emergency Management and Safety Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing 100083, ChinaSDIC Hami Energy Development Co., Ltd., Hami 839000, ChinaSDIC Hami Energy Development Co., Ltd., Hami 839000, ChinaSchool of Emergency Management and Safety Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Emergency Management and Safety Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Emergency Management and Safety Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Emergency Management and Safety Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing 100083, ChinaMine water contains a large amount of hard water ions, and as the main water used in foam dust suppressants, its water hardness is crucial to the dust removal efficiency and economic costs of foam dust suppressants. In order to study the variation law and microscopic mechanism of foam stability influenced by mine water hardness, molecular simulation was employed to investigate the effects of mine waters containing different concentrations of Ca2+, Mg2+, and Na+ on the stability of foam liquid films. Taking a foam system composed of anionic surfactant Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (MSDS) and nonionic surfactant Alkyl Ethoxylate (AEO-5) in proportional blending as the research object, the variations in surface tension, interface thickness, radial distribution functions, diffusion coefficients, and hydrogen bonds, which are microscopic characterizations, were thoroughly analyzed. The study reveals several findings. Firstly, the interfacial tension of foam systems increases with higher concentrations of Ca2+ and Mg2+, particularly under conditions of high water hardness where foam stability is weakest due to thinner interfaces. Secondly, analysis of radial distribution functions and diffusion coefficients indicates that the oxygen atoms of surfactant head groups are crucial for foam stability, with O1‒3 exhibiting three times greater water adsorption capability compared to O4. In the presence of Ca2+, O1‒3 and O4 exhibit stronger water binding capacities within the foam. Thirdly, different ion types exert varying effects on foam stability. Under conditions of moderate to high water hardness and in the presence of Mg2+, the average hydrogen bond length between O1‒3 and water molecules is shorter than that observed with Ca2+, suggesting stronger hydrogen bonding in Mg2+-containing foams. Conversely, under high water hardness conditions, the average number of hydrogen bonds between O1‒3 and water molecules is fewer and their average bond length greater than in Ca2+-containing foams, indicating enhanced hydrogen bonding strength in Ca2+-based systems at high water hardness. These results deepen our microscopic understanding of how mine water hardness influences foam stability, elucidating microstructural changes and interactions among surfactant molecules and water within foam liquid films.http://www.mtkxjs.com.cn/article/doi/10.12438/cst.2024-0642foam dust suppressionwater hardnesssurfactantfoam stabilitymolecular dynamics
spellingShingle Qinggang LU
Kai WANG
Honghu HUANG
Yi LIANG
Jiangshi ZHANG
Yanan WANG
Yulu JIA
Yunfei LIANG
Molecular simulation study on effect of mine water hardness on foam stability
Meitan kexue jishu
foam dust suppression
water hardness
surfactant
foam stability
molecular dynamics
title Molecular simulation study on effect of mine water hardness on foam stability
title_full Molecular simulation study on effect of mine water hardness on foam stability
title_fullStr Molecular simulation study on effect of mine water hardness on foam stability
title_full_unstemmed Molecular simulation study on effect of mine water hardness on foam stability
title_short Molecular simulation study on effect of mine water hardness on foam stability
title_sort molecular simulation study on effect of mine water hardness on foam stability
topic foam dust suppression
water hardness
surfactant
foam stability
molecular dynamics
url http://www.mtkxjs.com.cn/article/doi/10.12438/cst.2024-0642
work_keys_str_mv AT qingganglu molecularsimulationstudyoneffectofminewaterhardnessonfoamstability
AT kaiwang molecularsimulationstudyoneffectofminewaterhardnessonfoamstability
AT honghuhuang molecularsimulationstudyoneffectofminewaterhardnessonfoamstability
AT yiliang molecularsimulationstudyoneffectofminewaterhardnessonfoamstability
AT jiangshizhang molecularsimulationstudyoneffectofminewaterhardnessonfoamstability
AT yananwang molecularsimulationstudyoneffectofminewaterhardnessonfoamstability
AT yulujia molecularsimulationstudyoneffectofminewaterhardnessonfoamstability
AT yunfeiliang molecularsimulationstudyoneffectofminewaterhardnessonfoamstability