Respirable dust constituents and particle size: a case study in a thin-seam coal mine.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Gonzalez J ; Jaramillo L ; Keles C ; Pokhrel N ; Sarver E
• Description:
  This paper presents a case study of respirable dust characterization in a thin-seam coal mine in southern West Virginia. Samples were collected in the intake, near the feeder breaker, and downwind of an active roof bolter, as well as in three downwind locations from the continuous miner during four separate cuts. The dust was analyzed using: scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) to estimate particle size and mineralogy distributions; thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to estimate coal, non-carbonate, and carbonate mass fractions; and Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy to estimate quartz and kaolinite mass content. SEM-EDX results were generally consistent with those obtained in previous studies of other central Appalachian mines, including presence of relatively high non-carbonate minerals content (primarily aluminosilicates and silica) associated with the rock strata encountered in the mine. Downwind of the miner, fine aluminosilicate particles were particularly abundant and apparently influenced the SEM-EDX analysis for some samples, resulting in underestimation of coal content relative to TGA. Comparison of the microscopy results to those from the TGA and FT-IR indicates some interference between aluminosilicates and coal dust is simply due to high sample loading - however, presence of coal-mineral micro-agglomerates is also indicated. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Coal Coal Mining Dust Lung Lung Diseases Mining Occupational Health Particulate Matter Radiography Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety

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• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Respirable Coal Mine Dust; Dust Characterization; SEM-EDX; FT-IR; TGA; Black Lung Coal Mines; Respirable Dust; Dust Analysis; Scanning Electron Microscopy; X-ray Analysis; Particle Size; Gravimetric Analysis; Mineral Dusts; Black Lung Disease; Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis;
• ISSN:
  2524-3462
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Contract
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  39
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20065224
• Citation:
  Min Metall Explor 2022 Jun; 39(3):1007-1015
• Contact Point Address:
  Emily Sarver, Department of Mining and Minerals Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
• Email:
  esarver@vt.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2022
• Performing Organization:
  Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20190903
• Source Full Name:
  Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:0dc72dfa24d2949f7a2fd1ceeef0b37ac63270a4e4860bfd4fe179f7802a55e7818829607be58d6b8d2f1776d98547f3223745d01b37e60220b77415d440f1a0
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/249374/cdc_249374_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.39 MB ]