Dust Control Solutions

Dust generation imposes various problems in various fields. Primarily it causes health problems of exposed people and safety issues in traffic and work sites. On the other side, dust mitigation means loss of material. It can be a road, construction or raw material loss.

Common Dust Control Methods:

1. Applying Water:

The most abundant among dust control solutions is water application. It settles small particles on the ground for a certain period of time. This period is very short, demanding reapplications frequently. Besides huge amounts of water wasted, traffic and work activities are highly disturbed due to often needed treatments. Moisture makes the soil more plastic and thus makes vehicle moving more difficult and increases surface deformations.

2. Adding salts to water:

To keep small particles bound to the ground for periods longer than when watering applied, various salts are often used. The most common are magnesium and calcium chloride, and seawater if available. Salts are able to absorb high quantities of water from the atmosphere and to keep surface damp for a limited time. However, if there is no sufficiently high atmospheric humidity, this method is ineffective. There is the same issue with plasticity increase as when water added.

3. Asphalts:

The use of cut-back liquid asphalts as dust control solutions was once popular. However, because of the great amount of fuel oil or kerosene in these products, they have been banned in many countries. Some emulsified asphalts may work well as dust suppressants, but their use is very limited. The application must be performed with special asphalt application equipment.
Acidulated soybean oil soapstock is a by-product of the soybean oil refining process. It is biodegradable and has many of the characteristics of light petroleum-based oil. It acts by penetrating the surface and providing a light bonding of the gravel.

GRT Dust Control Solutions:

All of the above-mentioned dust control solutions will insufficiently or not at all bind soil particles. This approach partially resolves dust generation but creates or increases the other issue, soil instability. Dust generation is primarily related to unpaved traffic or haul roads and thus terrain stability is very important as well. This approach Global Road Technology’s specialists implemented while developing dust abatement products. The results are highly effective and vehicle friendly dust control solutions with stabilizing effect.

• GRT Haul-Loc
• GRT Wet-Loc
• GRT Activate
• GRT Activate UG
• GRT 5000

GRT5000 is designed specifically for the tough conditions of the resources sector. It can be applied directly to raw materials using existing overhead spray bar systems or water trucks. For example, in the coal industry, the product prevents the loss of materials whilst not altering the burning properties of coal. It solves the problem of dusting when pulverized minerals and/or coals are shipped across country in coal cars or trucks.

GRT Haul-Loc is a specially formulated liquid polymer added to watering trucks used to reduce water required for continuous dust suppression by at least 50% and extend the dust suppressing effects four to five times longer than water alone. Designed specifically for the conditions of the mining and resource sectors, GRT Haul-Loc can be applied using existing site water trucks, tankers, or sprinklers. Mixed with water, GRT Haul-Loc is sprayed onto road surfaces, it binds and creates a stable layer resistant to heavy traffic wear, wind erosion, and rainfall impact.

For more information regarding Global Road Technology or dust control solutions please contact us.