Experimental study on ratio optimization and application of improved bonded dust suppressant based on wetting effect

ABSTRACT

Traditional bonded dust suppressants have high viscosity, insufficient fluidity and poor permeability problems, which is adverse to the formation of a continuous and stable solidified layer of dust suppressant solution on the surface of a dust pile. Gemini surfactant has efficient wetting performance and environmental protection performance, it is introduced as a wetting component to improve the flow and penetration performance of bonded dust suppressant solution, polymer absorbent resin (SAP) and sodium carboxymethyl starch (CMS) were selected as the main components of dust suppressant. A proportioning optimization model was constructed based on response surface methodology (RSM), and the concentration of each dust suppression component was selected as the independent variable, water loss rate, moisture retention rate, wind erosion rate and solution viscosity were chosen as the dependent variables in this model. The optimal formulation of the improved bonded dust suppressant was obtained by analyzing the laboratory experiments and field tests data. The results show that the effective time (≥15d) of the newly developed dust suppressant is 45 times longer than that of pure water (≈1/3d), and 1.875 times longer than that of the comparative dust suppressant (8d), the comprehensive cost is 27.36% lower than that of the similar dust suppressant product for mining enterprises.

Implications: This paper presents the research idea of optimizing the bonded dust suppressant based on the improvement of wetting performance. And the paper used response surface method to obtain a wetting and bonding composite dust suppressant formulation. The field test shows that the dust suppressant has good dust suppression performance and economic benefits. This study laid the foundation for the development of new and efficient dust suppressants, and had important theoretical and application values for reducing dust environmental hazards and preventing occupational diseases.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability statement

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [51674289], the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of Central South University [2022ZZTS0146] and the Postgraduate Innovative Project of Central South University [2021×QLH004].

Notes on contributors

Ming Li

Ming Li is an associate professor in Central South University, Changsha, China. His research activities focus on dust control technology and theory, mine safety and environmental protection.

Wanjie Yin

Wanjie Yin is an MS in Resources and Safety Engineering school at Central South University, Changsha, China.

Jiao Tang

Jiao Tang is an MS in Resources and Safety Engineering school at Central South University, Changsha, China.

Linling Qiu

Linling Qiu was an MS in Central South University, Changsha, China.

Xudong Fei

Xudong Fei was an MS in Central South University, Changsha, China.

Huaizhen Yang

Huaizhen Yang is an MS in Resources and Safety Engineering school at Central South University, Changsha, China.

Zhenhong Tang

Zhenhong Tang is a project leader of Guangxi Liuzhou Steel Group Co., Ltd, China.

Fashun Chen

Fashun Chen is a project manager for Guangxi Liuzhou Steel Group Co., Ltd, China.

Xingbo Qin

Xingbo Qin is a staff member of Guangxi Liuzhou Steel Group Co., Ltd, China.

Gang Li

Gang Li is a professorate senior engineer at Sinosteel Maanshan General Institute of Mining Research Co., Ltd, China. He has long been engaged in scientific research in the direction of occupational health engineering protection in non-coal mines.