Effect of Inorganic Ions on Coal Slurry Conditioning—From the Viewpoint of Energy Dissipation and Mechanical Analysis

Understanding the effect of inorganic cations on coal slurry conditioning is the premise of optimizing coal flotation. We studied the interaction between coal and dodecane via Materials Studio (MS) software. The difference in electrostatic potential energy was the essential factor of the different adsorption behavior of water and dodecane molecules at the coal surface. The interaction force, detachment force, and wettability of different coal types were measured using the interaction force test system. As the Ca 2+ concentration increased, the interaction force between coal and the solution decreased while the wettability increased. The adsorption rate and contact angle of dodecane on the coal surface were measured via ultraviolet spectrophotometer. Both the adsorption rate and contact angle between coal and dodecane generally decreased as the Ca 2+ concentration increased independently of coal type. Our results can provide valuable insight into the development of technology for coal slurry conditioning and flotation.