When present, dust disturbs everyday life and work by reducing visibility, by depositing on various surfaces and by irritating nose, throat and skin. Moreover, dust has sincere influence on health through direct contact or through dispersion in air, soil and water bodies.
Sources of dust are mining and construction processes, driving and operating on unpaved roads, etc. Therefore, there are different types of dust depending on the source. For example, coal dust is quite hazardous because it is a leading cause of black lung disease among miners. On the other side, dust produced from sand, gravel and stone processing causes silicosis.
Dust control is very important link in meeting safety, health and environmental requirements. Dust control systems act to prevent dust generation or to collect dust when generated. Based on this, there are two main types of dust control systems: dry collection and wet suppression.
Each dust collector system consists of a dust filter, a blower, a filter cleaning system, and a dust removal system. Dust is vacuumed from the source to a hopper for proper disposal. Dust collectors are used in various industries and settings: silos, mines, quarries, building industries, foundries, grinding mills, glass plants, wood processing, coal handling industries, etc.
Wet dust suppression uses water sprays, water guns, and mists to control dust on piles, roads, and processing operations. It can be applied in any environment that has dust. The most common is water spray system.
Water is the most common dust suppressant while salts, asphalt emulsions, or mulches are also in use. Suppressant selection is based on the type of material to be treated, location, how dust is being generated, the impact of suppressant on environment, climate conditions and local regulations. Other factor is cost of dust control systems which include cost of suppressant and associated costs of labor and equipment.
Although most popular dust agent, water has numerous drawbacks. It evaporates quickly and thus large amounts are needed, as well as frequent applications. Consequent costs of labour and equipment are high. Additionally, watering contributes to higher instability of material, and thus in the case of roads, deformations appear more often.
Salts are somewhat more advanced than water itself as they make more difficult for water to evaporate. This kind of dust control systems mostly uses sea water, if available, or chlorides. Both are corrosive which negatively affects any metal parts that are in contact with the treated material. They also lead to higher physical instability of treated terrain.
Bituminous based products work by binding the wearing course material. However, they require addition of solvents, emulsifiers and wetting agents when used as dust suppressants. The performance depends on the type of the wearing course material.
Mulching requires high amounts of external materials which, if are of higher quality and last longer, are also more expensive. Besides high demand in materials, it imposes extra transportation, handling and labour.
Common dust control systems are very expensive due to high demand in equipment, external material and labour. Global Road Technology (GRT) made dust control systems economical, environment-friendly and highly effective. GRT suppressants are polymer-based products certified environmentally friendly by Environmental Resource Management (ERM). They are compatible with all types of soils and thus no or little ex-situ material is needed. Since bonding material particles, GRT suppressants contribute to terrain stabilization. GRT dust control systems are vehicle and equipment friendly as the agents are non-corrosive. GRT suppressants will not break down easily from UV-rays, enzymes, and soil microbes nor wash away in the rain. As a result, monthly expenses will decrease, while efficiency and safety of treated terrain will increase.
For more information regarding Global Road Technology or dust control systems please contact: https://globalroadtechnology.com/contact-grt/
