Characteristic Analysis and Performance Evaluation of Environmentally Friendly Dust Suppressants Prepared from Straw

Abstract

To enhance the comprehensive utilization of agricultural waste straw resources, mitigate environmental pollution from improper straw disposal, and address dust challenges in coal storage yards, the Box-Behnken design response surface methodology was adopted for the preparation of the dust suppressant. This methodology primarily utilized straw, sodium A-alkene sulfonate (AOS), carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC), and industrial alkali as predictor variables, with viscosity serving as the response variable to establish a robust regression model. The optimal mass ratio of these four components was determined resulting in the preparation of a resource-based composite coal yard dust suppressant. The observations revealed a strong correlation coefficient (R2=0.9113) and highly significant P value (<0.0001) in the regression model, indicating a close relationship among the reagents and viscosity. Specifically, the optimal mass ratio of the straw, CMC, AOS, and alkali was determined to be 58:20:7:15. Furthermore, techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, contact angle measurements, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy were used to analyze the performance of the developed dust suppressant. The composite coal yard dust suppressant exhibited remarkable adhesion properties, robust resistance to evaporation, and exceptional tolerance to wind erosion. Notably, a dust suppression rate of up to 94.89% was achieved under a simulated wind speed of 10 m/s, which effectively reduced dust generation in coal yards.