A Measurement Method for the Pore Structure of Coal Slime Filter Cake

The accurate determination of the coal slime filter cake pore structure has always been a problem in the field of solid–liquid separation. An innovative measurement method for the pore structure of filter cake after filtration dehydration of coal slime water, including the preparation of coal slime filter cake, the solidification of the filter cake, and the preparation and measurement of test filter cake, was established in this paper. Epoxy resin and curing agent can ensure the strength of the filter cake, and red colorant can realize the accurate separation of coal particles and pores. The most suitable perfusate consists of epoxy resin, red colorant, and curing reagent, and the optimal ratio is 12:3:5. The application of the method to the study of the effect of filtration time on the coal slime filter cake pores shows that the modified method is effective. At the initial stage of filtration, intergranular pores formed by coarse particles are the main pores. With increasing filtration time, the macropores formed by the coarse particles are mainly filled with fine particles, and the pore size of the filter cake rapidly decreases. These measuring results and rules are accurate. This method can be conveniently used to study the microstructure of filter cake, pore channel regulation, filtration dehydration mechanisms, etc.