Analysis and Characterization of Anti-Caking Additives Used in Rock Dust to Mitigate Mine Explosions

Details

• Personal Author:
  Harris, Marcia L. ; Perera IE ; Sapko, Michael J.
• Description:
  Experiments conducted with limestone dusts and dolomitic marble dusts have indicated that when rock dust is wetted and subsequently dried, it becomes a solid, non-dispersible cake. However, in order to be effectively inert a coal dust explosion, rock dust must be able to disperse as individual particles to air. To counteract this, rock dust manufacturers created treated rock dusts that will resist caking after moisture exposure. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) researchers conducted a series of laboratory-scale experiments on four base rock dusts and their treated counterparts to assess the effectiveness of various anticaking additives after being exposed to moisture and then dried. The dusts were exposed to moisture using humidity cabinets having a high relative humidity (99% RH) and by also exposing the rock dust bed to water through bottom wicking. The dusts were then evaluated for dispersibility after drying using the NIOSH-designed dust dispersion chamber. The anti-caking additives were different concentrations of stearic acid, oleic acid, and xylene-based surfactants. All results were compared to a reference rock dust used to conduct large-scale experiments in the Lake Lynn Experimental Mine (LLEM), Fairchance, PA. When the untreated dusts were dried after exposure to moisture for 1 day, no dispersion was measured. However, rock dusts treated with anti-caking agents were readily dispersible even after exposure to moisture for 6 months. This report details the analysis and characterization of anticaking additives using the NIOSH-designed dispersion chamber and the 20-L explosion test chamber. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Coal Coal Mining Dust Explosions Mining Occupational Health Particulate Matter Safety Surface-Active Agents Xylenes
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Dust Dispersibility Coal Dust Coal Mines Coal Mining Dusts Explosion Prevention Limestone Mining Industry Particle Size Particulate Dust Particulates Surfactants Treated Rock Dust Xylene

  More +
• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISSN:
  2524-3462
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  PMRD - Pittsburgh Mining Research Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  38
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20062594
• Citation:
  Min Metall Explor 2021 Jun; 38(3):1411-1419
• Contact Point Address:
  Inoka E. Perera, CDC NIOSH, Pittsburgh, PA
• Email:
  iju9@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Limestone (CAS RN 1317-65-3) ; Xylene (CAS RN 1330-20-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2021
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:3ede47f637ae30cdcfa151c9fb1f7bc337658a58e2026122be83b3a550cccde31443f00598791b18a66ba0ac25b144b4ec71fc6624aebae5def03be3df3f2162
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/215435/cdc_215435_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.53 MB ]