Enhanced dust removal with charged active water mist: Insights from macro-experiments and molecular simulations

Safe and efficient spray dust removal technology is an important direction for fine dust pollution control, and the charged active water mist dust removal technology has thus been developed. Its charging characteristics, atomization performance and dust removal efficiency were evaluated through macroscopic experiments, with the underlying mechanisms were elucidated via microscopic molecular simulation. Experimental results indicate that, compared with ordinary water and its single-component solutions, the mixed solution of 0.03 % Rapid Penetrant T(RPT) & AEO-9 (1:1 vol ratio) exhibits superior charging performance. When charged, this solution exhibits excellent atomization and dust suppression performance, producing droplets as small as 9.44 μm, with total dust and respirable dust removal efficiencies reaching 95.33 % and 88.86 %, respectively. Molecular simulations indicated that in charged RPT & AEO-9 droplets, electrostatic and hydrogen-bond interactions among water molecules are reduced, which facilitates molecular diffusion and accelerates droplet fragmentation. Furthermore, the highly active RPT and AEO-9 molecules adsorb on the anthracite surface, thereby increasing electrostatic sites available for interaction with water molecules. This results in water molecules adsorbing more strongly on the surface of the anthracite molecules, forming a thicker adsorption layer, reduced diffusion capacity, and stronger non-bonding interaction energy among different molecules. Consequently, the agglomeration between active droplets and coal dust particles is significantly enhanced. This study provides theoretical guidance for active agent selection and parameter control in engineering application of the novel charged active water mist dust removal technology. • Charged activated water exhibits high-efficiency atomization. • Charged active droplets can actively attract fine coal dust particles. • Active water additives enhance the adsorption between water and anthracite.