Date Available
4-30-2012
Year of Publication
2012
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
College
Engineering
Department/School/Program
Chemical Engineering
Faculty
Dr. Asit K. Ray
Faculty
Dr. Steven E. Rankin
Abstract
Dust capture for small coal particles (<2.5µm) can be improved if one takes advantage of electrostatic charges that resides on the surface of coal dust particles and on the surface of water spray droplets used to capture coal dust. Traditional dust capture methods that use water sprays are ineffective in capturing small dust particles since the motion of small dust particles is governed by electrostatic forces. If additives such as ionic surfactants could be added to water that would enhance the surface charge on water spray droplets, dust capture with water sprays could be improved.
The results presented show that n-sodium octyl sulfate causes the greatest charge enhancement versus the longer chained n-sodium dodecyl sulfate and n-sodium octadecyl sulfate. This can be explained by considering the factors that lead to droplet charge enhancement. Those factors are the mass of surfactant ions at the droplet surface, and the diffusion rate of the surfactant ions from the bulk droplet to the surface of the droplet. Sodium octyl sulfate will have a faster diffusion rate to the droplet surface because of its relatively short length, and will also maximize the mass balance of surfactant ions at the drop surface.
Recommended Citation
Warren, Mark T., "EFFECT OF IONIC SURFACTANTS ON ELECTROSTATIC CHARGING OF SPRAY DROPLETS" (2012). Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering. 7.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cme_etds/7
