{"id":78103,"date":"2020-05-22T04:49:49","date_gmt":"2020-05-22T04:49:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globalroadtechnology.com\/\/?p=78103"},"modified":"2020-05-25T06:17:49","modified_gmt":"2020-05-25T06:17:49","slug":"grt-dust-suppression-mining-operations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalroadtechnology.com\/grt-dust-suppression-mining-operations\/","title":{"rendered":"Dust Suppression in Mining Operations – GRT Haul Loc Case Study"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction \u2013 Water Use in Mining<\/b><\/p>\n

Over the years, Australia\u2019s mining and resources industry has consistently been a key contributor to Australia\u2019s economic growth, driven by mining exports. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), this contribution will continue to grow as Australia strengthens it’s mining and resources industry with renewable energy. Furthermore, as the global demand for mining commodities continues to increase, the need for effective, safe mining operations will indefinitely rise. While effective mining operations were previously reliant on innovative mining technology, the modern challenge exists in the area of dust control as the consequences of dust are affecting not only mining operations and equipment but also human health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the early 2000s, academics and mining practitioners alike identified a variety of different methods to combat the management of dust during mining operations. While these methods have included a variety of salts, surfactants, soil cements, bitumen, and polymer films, the most common dust control method to date is untreated plain water. This method typically requires a water truck to regularly apply untreated plain water on the common surfaces of the mining operations. While this method is effective in managing the dust and keeping the surfaces dust-free, academic studies have determined that watering once per hour only results in a dust control efficiency of about 40%. Increasing the application rate to every 30 mins or 15 mins will only increase the dust control effectiveness to 55% and 65%, respectively (seen in the figure below).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Dust<\/b><\/p>\n

Water Alone Does Not Work!<\/b><\/p>\n

With the dust control effectiveness of untreated water only at 40% for hourly applications, some mining sites around Australia have inevitably increased the rate of water application to every 30 or even 15 minutes, all to manage dust better. However, there are a variety of challenges and disadvantages associated with using water as a dust controller in Australia:<\/span><\/p>\n