Effects of Spray Surfactant and Particle Charge on Respirable Coal Dust Capture

Details

• Personal Author:
  Raynor PC ; Tessum MW
• Description:
  Background: Surfactant-containing water sprays are commonly used in coal mines to collect dust. This study investigates the dust collection performance of different surfactant types for a range of coal dust particle sizes and charges. Methods: Bituminous coal dust aerosol was generated in a wind tunnel. The charge of the aerosol was either left unaltered, charge-neutralized with a neutralizer, or positively- or negatively-charged using a diffusion charger after the particles were neutralized. An anionic, cationic, or nonionic surfactant spray or a plain water spray was used to remove the particles from the air flow. Some particles were captured while passing through spray section, whereas remaining particles were charge-separated using an electrostatic classifier. Particle size and concentration of the charge-separated particles were measured using an aerodynamic particle sizer. Measurements were made with the spray on and off to calculate overall collection efficiencies (integrated across all charge levels) and efficiencies of particles with specific charge levels. Results: The diameter of the tested coal dust aerosol was 0.89 µm +/- 1.45 [geometric mean +/- geometric standard deviations (SD)]. Respirable particle mass was collected with 75.5 +/- 5.9% (mean +/- SD) efficiency overall. Collection efficiency was correlated with particle size. Surfactant type significantly impacted collection efficiency: charged particle collection by nonionic surfactant sprays was greater than or equal to collection by other sprays, especially for weakly-charged aerosols. Particle charge strength was significantly correlated with collection efficiency. Conclusion: Surfactant type affects charged particle spray collection efficiency. Nonionic surfactant sprays performed well in coal dust capture in many of the tested conditions. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aerosols Coal Coal Mining Mining Occupational Health Particulate Matter Safety Surface-Active Agents
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Efficiency Coal Dust Coal Mining Dust Collection Electric Charges Particle Aerodynamics Particle Size Particulates Respirable Coal Dust Respriable Dust Spray Surfactant Surfactants

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• ISSN:
  2093-7911
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Minnesota ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  296-305
• Volume:
  8
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20064087
• Citation:
  Saf Health Work 2017 Sep; 8(3):296-305
• Contact Point Address:
  Mei Tessum, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Mayo Mail Code 807, 420 Delaware Street Southeast, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
• Email:
  wang1443@umn.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2017
• Performing Organization:
  University of Minnesota
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20090915
• Source Full Name:
  Safety and Health at Work
• End Date:
  20130914
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:1e4228c6dda28e0a68bcc257ab5a99cf001d707feb73e577d8d31b7d3ef1ffb0821342fb91d4dfc361268a5239be5fa9a23498b5d7182728e95290fc004bddaa
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/222611/cdc_222611_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.91 MB ]