Sources and Wetting Characteristics of Respirable Coal and Silica Dust from Selec

描述（由申请人提供）： 美国地下煤矿生产率的提高和高煤层外稀释（15%至20%）开采继续产生粉尘控制问题，需要开发和实施替代的更有效的粉尘控制技术。此外，由于可吸入石英含量高，一些矿山面临降低粉尘标准的问题。近年来，煤矿工人的尘肺病呈上升趋势，导致矿山安全与健康管理局（MSHA）和国家职业安全与健康研究所（NIOSH）将煤矿粉尘确定为高优先级研究领域。 Interior Coal Basin的几个矿井存在粉尘控制问题，并面临降低的呼吸性粉尘合规标准，原因是：1）高生产率，2）约15- 20%的煤层外开采和5-10%的煤层内贫化，3）用于顶板支护的更长的锚杆孔，4）贯通式超断面，5）煤层和直接顶底板地层中二氧化硅/石英的表征不足，6）产生的石英粉尘的细度及其润湿特性的知识不足，7）切割顺序不当，（8）通风防尘措施不到位。虽然美国矿业局（USBM）和NIOSH对煤和石英粉尘进行了广泛的研究，但大多数研究都侧重于美国东部的煤矿。 在两个矿井（一个在伊利诺斯州，一个在印第安纳州）对煤尘的有限润湿性和可吸入石英的定量研究表明，在几个地区很难润湿煤尘，直接的顶板和底板地层的石英含量范围为25%至35%，而煤层的石英含量范围为2%至8%。这些研究表明，非常需要对该区域的煤和石英粉尘特性进行更系统的科学研究。本研究的总体目标是：1）开发来自不同单元操作的不同粒度煤和石英/二氧化硅粉尘的物理和化学特性，2）利用MSHA和来自内陆煤盆地矿山的公司粉尘采样数据，以确定最暴露于煤和石英和二氧化硅粉尘的职业和位置，3）开发在采矿、运输和顶板支撑操作期间产生的煤和二氧化硅粉尘的不同粒度级的表面和润湿性特性，及4）确定可吸入煤及矽尘的工程控制措施，以协助业界即时符合MSHA标准，同时制订长远措施。* 首席研究员1

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Increased productivity and high out-of-seam dilution (15% to 20%) mining in US underground coal mines continue to generate dust control problems and the need to develop and implement alternate more efficient technologies for dust control. Additionally, several mines are facing reduced dust standards due to high respirable quartz content. Recent increasing trend in coal workers' pneumoconiosis has led Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) identifying coal mine dust as a high priority research area. Several mines in the Interior Coal Basin are having dust control problems and facing reduced respirable dust compliance standards because of: 1) High production rates, 2) About 15-20 % out-of-seam mining and 5-10% in-seam dilution, 3) Longer bolt holes for roof support, 4) Walk-through super-sections, 5) Inadequate characterization of silica/ quartz in the coal seam and immediate roof and floor strata, 6) Fineness of quartz dust generated and insufficient knowledge of its wetting characteristics, 7) Improper cutting sequence, and 8) Inadequate ventilation and dust control measures. Although the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) and NIOSH have done extensive research on coal and quartz dusts, most of this research emphasized eastern U.S coal mines. Limited wettability studies of coal dust and quantification of respirable quartz at two mines (one in Illinois and one in Indiana) have indicated difficult to wet coal dusts in several areas and that immediate roof and floor strata have quartz content ranging from 25% to 35 % while the coal seam had quartz content varying from 2 % to 8%. These studies have identified a significant need for more systematic scientific studies on coal and quartz dusts characteristics in the region. The overall goals of this research are to: 1) Develop physical and chemical characteristics of different particle size coal and quartz/ silica dusts from different unit operations, 2) Utilize MSHA and company dust sampling data from the Interior Coal Basin mines to identify occupations and locations most exposed to coal and quartz and silica dust, 3) Develop surface and wettability characteristics for different size fractions of coal and silica dusts generated during mining, haulage and roof support operations, and 4) Identify engineering controls for respirable coal and silica dusts that would help the industry to meet MSHA standards immediately while longer-term measures are being developed. *Principal Investigator 1