Fractal Characteristics and Microstructure of Coal with Impact of Starch-Polymerized Aluminum Sulfate Fracturing Fluids

Abstract

The degree of irregularity and complexity of the pore structure are comprehensively reflected in the fractal dimension. The porosity of coal was determined by its fractal dimension, where a larger dimension indicates a lower porosity. Fractal theory and the Frenkel–Halsey–Hill (FHH) model were applied to explore the variation rules of concentration on functional groups and pore structure in this study. Combined with infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, a starch-polymerized aluminum sulfate composite fracturing fluid was prepared, which plays an important role in methane adsorption and permeability of coal samples. The test results showed that, compared with the original coal, the pore volume and specific surface area of each group of coal samples were reduced, the average pore diameter was initially enlarged and then declined, and fractal dimension D1 dropped by 5.4% to 15.4%, while fractal dimension D2 gained 1.2% to 7.9%. Moreover, the nitrogen adsorption of each group of coal samples was obviously lower than the original coal, and the concentration of starch-polymerized aluminum sulfate solution existed at a critical optimal concentration for the modification of the coal samples, and the nitrogen adsorption reached a minimum value of 0.6814 cm3/g at a concentration of 10%. The novel composite solution prepared by the combination of starch and flocculant in this paper enhanced the permeability of the coal seam, which is of great significance in improving the efficiency of coalbed methane mining.