https://www.miningweekly.com

Dust control enhances mine machinery performance

29th May 2015

By: Bruce Montiea

Creamer Media Reporter

  

Font size: - +

Proper dust control can significantly enhance the profitability and sustainability of a mining operation, says dust control management company Dust-A-Side corporate marketing manager Lolly Chibi.

“Dust gets in everywhere – in air filters, in oil and in between moving parts of machinery. Dust at mines works like carborundum, as it grinds metal away,” she states, emphasising the importance of dust control to ensure effective materials handling.

Chibi notes that Dust-A-Side supplies a bitumin-based emulsion solution to treat dust and maintain the haul roads of mines. Bitumen can bind fine dust particles, creating a waterproof seal on the treated road surface.

“The robustness and malleability of bitumen makes this a reliable solution for treating and maintaining primary haul roads.”

The use of this technology increases the mine’s productivity, as truck cycle times are faster and there are fewer wet-weather stand-downs, she notes.

“In wet weather, the solution slows the erosion of road surfaces as rainwater tends to run off the road and not soak into the surface and soften it.”

In addition, direct operating costs are reduced, as there is less need for water bowsers and graders. And savings are also made on truck tyres as they benefit from the smooth road surface, she says.

The surface of a treated haul road saves in excess of 90% water, therefore, allowing for mining operations to have a reduced carbon footprint.

This also results in healthier employees who can breathe better-quality air, devoid of excessive dust.

Solutions
Dust-A-Side provides a range of dust suppressants, such as HydroTac, which is suitable for treating secondary haul roads.

HydroTac is a binder formulated to control fugitive dust on secondary haul roads, storage piles and materials handling transfer points. It reduces gravel loss and airborne dust, and reduces road maintenance. It can be applied to a variety of materials with different compositions and characteristics.

“It is environment friendly, nontoxic, quick and easy to use, and does not interrupt traffic flows,” says Chibi.

Meanwhile, the Dust-A-Side HydroSperse is a blend of lignosulphonate, bitumen emulsion and environmentally friendly surfactant specifically formulated to control fugitive dust on secondary haul roads. The product is biodegradable and does not contain corrosive chloride compounds or waste oils.

“This solution is beneficial because it does not use water, which evaporates rapidly in warm weather. It keeps the surface wetter for longer, compared with water. There is also no need to stop traffic to apply it, since it penetrates the surface quickly,” explains Chibi.

Further, the Dust-A-Side HydroPlus solution is used in conjuction with the High Pressure Mist System to decrease the surface tension of water and increase the wetting ability of water, particularly on hydrophobic dust particles.

Chibi says, when the solution is sprayed, more dust is removed by volume, as moisture is added to the air and not the material. “This prevents the material from being altered by being soaked in water.”

She concludes that the total dust management service offered by Dust-A-Side adds value and increases the life expectancy of mine machinery.

Edited by Leandi Kolver
Creamer Media Deputy Editor

Comments

The content you are trying to access is only available to subscribers.

If you are already a subscriber, you can Login Here.

If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe now, by selecting one of the below options.

For more information or assistance, please contact us at subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za.

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION