Characterization of Nano-to-Micron Sized Respirable Coal Dust: Particle Surface Alteration and the Health Impact

Details

• Personal Author:
  Liu S ; Zhang R ; Zheng S ; Liu S ; Zhang R ; Zheng S
• Description:
  Chemical and physical properties of coal dust particles significantly influence the inhalation of respirable coal dust by miners, causing several lung diseases such as coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) and silicosis. Multiple experimental techniques, including proximate/ultimate analyses, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), laser diffraction, and low-pressure CO2 and N2 adsorption, were used to investigate the chemical and physical properties of micron-/nano-coal particles comprehensively. Compared to the micron-scale coal dust, the nano-coal dust (prepared by cryogenic ballmill) shows the increase of carbon content and aromaticity and a decrease of oxygen content along with the reduction of oxygen-containing functional groups. Pore volume and surface area estimated by low-pressure CO2 and N2 adsorption have more than five-time increase for the nano-coal dust. The reduction of oxygen functional groups suggests the dropped wetting behavior of coal nanoparticles. The significantly increased pore volume and surface area in coal nanoparticles could be caused by the enhanced pore interconnectivity on the particle surface and the alteration of coal macromolecules. Weaker wettability and the highly enhanced surface area suggest potentially more significant toxicity of nano-coal dust inhaled by coal miners. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Coal Coal Mining Lung Lung Diseases Mining Occupational Health Particulate Matter Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety
• Keywords:
  Adsorption Author Keywords: Coal Nanoparticles Black Lung Disease Coal Dust Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis Miner's Health Nanoparticles Particulates Pore Structure Surface Chemistry X-ray Diffraction

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• ISSN:
  0304-3894
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Contract
• Genre:
  Journal Article ; Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health ; Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America ; North America
• Volume:
  413
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20068145
• Citation:
  J Hazard Mater 2021 Jul; 413:125447
• Contact Point Address:
  Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 224 Hosler Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA
• Email:
  szl3@psu.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2021
• Performing Organization:
  Pennsylvania State University
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20190827
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Hazardous Materials
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:15c6e6dd7035d1963a78c2e57c85300fbddb07a9ecb9d318ec7c7c6197101265a070185005687072abf628fa3c2db057aca8eb9fae6ff052d1ab1b7aa0a258d4
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/230359/cdc_230359_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.82 MB ]