Experimental synthesis and performance comparison analysis of high-efficiency wetting enhancers for coal seam water injection

To improve the wettability effect of coal seam water injection, and reduce dust production from the source, this paper proposes the preparation of three kinds of high-efficiency wetting enhancers. In this study, 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropionic sulfonic acid and itaconic acid were introduced into the polymer chain of sodium alginate in different combinations. Anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate and nonionic surfactant aliphatic alcohol polyoxyethylene ether were added in different proportions to obtain three kinds of enhancers. The three kinds of enhancers have good viscosity and fluidity, and the optimal emulsifier additive is determined by a surface tension test. The hydrophilic hydroxyl, carboxyl or sulfonic groups of enhancers were obtained by a Fourier-transform infrared experiment, which was beneficial to water absorption. The contact effect of different solutions on coal block was studied by a scanning electron microscopy experiment. An energy dispersive spectrometry experiment proved that the solution was well dispersed. Through reverse osmosis experiment and contact angle analysis, the wettability of different solutions was compared, and the best enhancers was obtained. The molecular dynamics simulation was used to verify the relationship between them, and finally the mechanism of action was deduced. It was proved that AMPS-IA/SA+SDS/AEO had better wettability. Thus, AMPS-IA/SA+SDS/AEO is an ideal enhancer for coal seam water injection. (C) 2020 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study proposed the preparation of three kinds of high-efficiency wetting enhancers to improve the wettability effect of coal seam water injection. Through various experiments, the optimal enhancer was determined based on its viscosity, fluidity, and ability to reduce dust production at the source. The molecular dynamics simulation was used to verify the relationship between the enhancers and the mechanism of action, establishing that AMPS-IA/SA+SDS/AEO had the best wettability.