Adsorption Characteristics of Ionic Surfactants on Anthracite Surface: A Combined Experimental and Modeling Study

Ionic surfactants are widely used in coal dust control in mines, and their adsorption characteristics on the coal surface have a great influence on the coal dust control effect. In this investigation, anionic sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) and cationic octadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (STAC) were selected to explore the adsorption characteristics of ionic surfactants on the surface of anthracite. The experimental results show that the adsorption rate and efficiency of STAC on the surface of anthracite are higher than that of SDBS; STAC can form a denser surfactant layer on the surface of anthracite, with a larger adsorption capacity and higher strength. Molecular dynamics simulations show that the adsorption between STAC and the surface of anthracite is tighter, and the distribution at the coal–water interface is more uniform; the surface of anthracite modified by STAC has a stronger binding ability to water molecules.