Dust suppression products, chemicals and polymers

What are dust suppression products?

Over the years, operators have relied on a collection of dust suppression products. These are usually added to the operational water supply. In the modern era, dust suppression products are available in various formats and have been optimised over time to offer significantly improved performance. Advanced polymers are now in use that binds soils together and can last up to 18 months. 

Recent technological advances are at the point where dust suppression products are also supported by the Internet of Things (IoT) and provide valuable site-wide operational data. When building a dust suppression plan, operators must still consider variables like soil type, weather conditions, and disturbance frequency (e.g. traffic movement). 

However, even with all the different products on the market, the aim remains the same: To achieve the maximum effectiveness and durability of dust treatment measures while improving performance, safety and protecting our environment. 

So, let’s dive in and explore some details about modern dust suppression products.

What are dust suppression chemicals?

Today, you’ll find a selection of dust suppression chemicals used around Australian mining and construction sites.

Some of the most common include:

• Chlorides: Calcium chloride (CaCl2) & Magnesium chloride (MgCl2)
• Organic, nonbituminous: Calcium lignosulfonate, Sodium lignosulfonate & Ammonium lignosulfonate
• Petroleum-based products: Bitumen emulsion (slow breaking non-ionic)
• Electrochemical stabilisers: Sulfonated petroleum Enzymes

As a side note, certain materials absolutely can not be used in place of dust suppression chemicals; these include:

• Oil
• Landfill gas condensate
• Contaminated leachate or stormwater  (the use of which could cause unlawful environmental harm)

Most dust control chemicals, including those supplied by GRT,  are based on the latest concentrated environmentally friendly polymers, meaning they’re cost-effective and safe.

Speaking of polymers…

What are dust suppression polymers?

Dust suppression polymers are a standard solution found across the industry today.

Polymeric emulsion-based soil binders include the following: 

• Acrylic copolymers and polymers
• Liquid polymers of methacrylates and acrylates
• Copolymers of sodium acrylates and acrylamides
• Poly-acrylamide and copolymers of acrylamide
• And hydro-colloid polymers

To name a few.

In broad terms, polymers can provide roughly 9 to 18 months of service life when the treated area remains free of disruption and traffic movement. 

On haul roads and permanent unsealed routes, dust suppression polymers can be integrated into road maintenance (grading and rolling) to improve surface resilience and compaction.

GRT’s dust suppression products

GRT supplies a range of specially formulated, polymer-based dust suppression products and solutions.

Our products not only prevent the generation of dust but also work to stabilise the road surface. 

Each solution has been designed for quick deployment and can be applied easily without adverse environmental impacts.

We’ve also worked hard to solve the dust problem impacting fruit, cropping, and feed viability in the horticultural and Ag sectors.

The GRT dust suppression product line includes the following:

1. GRT: Haul-Loc: Ultra-concentrate uses GRT’s LCP technologies to maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of water cart operations by up to 500%.
2. GRT: ACTIVATE UG: Super-activated dust control for underground mining. This product is injected into water supply lines and through existing spray systems for the longwall, continuous miners, and conveyors, targeting harmful airborne coal and silica dust.
3. GRT Wet-Loc: Non-drying and non-setting, a synthetic fluid designed to adsorb into soil particles, stopping them from becoming airborne. GRT Wet-Loc is long-lasting, waterless, and ideally suited to underground mining roads and heavy, damaging traffic areas. Including tracked machinery ways and race tracks (speedways and even horse and camel tracks).
4. GRT: Drill & Blast Applications: GRT: 12X & GRT: DC Binder. These products super-activate the water for drilling and blasting. The chemical interactions allow the binding of the surface of fine drill cutting piles.
5. GRT: Broadscale Applications: GRT: Soil-Loc, GRT: Ore-Loc, and GRT: Rubble-Loc. Specific formulations designed for farming, resources, ore stocks, transport, demolition and disaster rehab sites.
6. GRT: ACTIVATE: Cutting-edge dust control technology to make water work better, harder, and more efficiently. Its injected through existing dust spray systems, trucks or stabilisers, and critical applications in quarry crushers, conveyors and road construction.

Check out GRT’s total dust suppression solutions with our latest SMART Dosing Solutions!

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References:

https://www.austieca.com.au/documents/item/224

https://globalroadtechnology.com/dust-control-methods/