Evaluation of Protein and Polysaccharide Biopolymers as Dust Suppressants on Mine Soils: Laboratory Experiments

Abstract

Polysaccharide biopolymers have been shown to be alternatives to established dust suppressants. This study investigates the potential of 14 polysaccharides and proteins from diverse botanical (corn, pea, wheat, cellulose, potato, and fava bean) and animal (pig, chicken, and cow) sources as dust suppressants on two mine soils (medium-grained sand and fine-grained silica sand). Results of laboratory tests demonstrate that the type of biopolymer and its concentration have a significant effect on penetration resistance, moisture retention, and crust thickness. Depending on biopolymer type, concentration, and soil type, moisture retention range from 1.0 to 19.5 wt% (control, Cmedium-gr. = 2.5 and Cfine-gr. = 6.9 wt%), penetration resistance from 1.7 to 37.9 N (Cmedium-gr. = 1.5 and Cfine-gr. = 1.7 N), and crust thickness from 0.3 to 18.1 mm (Cmedium-gr. and Cfine-gr. = 0 mm). Proteins form crusts with penetration resistances similar to polysaccharides but mainly require higher concentrations than polysaccharides. Based on the test results, xanthan gum, carboxymethyl cellulose, corn starch, fava bean protein concentrate, and plasma protein exhibit the highest potential to act as dust suppressants. This research contributes to evaluating biopolymers as environmentally friendly soil amendments that may be used to control fugitive dust emissions from large, barren surfaces.

Effectiveness of Protein and Polysaccharide Biopolymers as Dust Suppressants on Mine Soils: Large-Scale Field Trials

“…Due to the higher dosage, it had likely not been entirely washed off the surface by rainfall. In addition, Sieger et al [37] previously found that FBPC displayed increased moisture retention capacity. Thus, it is assumed that the remaining FBPC on the trial area allowed it to retain some moisture from the 6.8 L/m 2 of rainfall that fell on D23, resulting in slightly reduced dust emissions compared to the control.…”

“…Previous studies by Sieger et al [37] investigated the dust suppressant potential of 14 selected protein and polysaccharide biopolymers using penetrometer, moisture retention and crust thickness measurements. In a subsequent study, Sieger et al [38] performed wind tunnel and penetrometer tests with 5 selected proteins and polysaccharides to investigate the wind erosion and penetration resistance of the biopolymer-treated soil samples at different application rates (L/m 2 ) and concentrations (%).…”

“…These field trials build on previous laboratory studies by Sieger et al, who first assessed the particle agglomeration potential of 14 selected biopolymers by moisture retention, penetrometer, and crust thickness tests [37]. A subsequent wind tunnel study analysed the ability of five previously tested biopolymers to enhance the soil wind erosion resistance [38].…”

“…A subsequent wind tunnel study analysed the ability of five previously tested biopolymers to enhance the soil wind erosion resistance [38]. The studies showed that all biopolymers agglomerated the sand particles and enhanced the penetration and wind erosion resistance of the samples, with most of the polysaccharides tested (e.g., XG and CS) proving more effective at lower concentrations than proteins (e.g., FBPC) [37,38].…”

“…The field trials build on two previous laboratory studies by Sieger et al. [37,38], which investigated the particle agglomeration potential and ability of selected biopolymers to enhance the soil wind erosion resistance. The field trials started with the large-scale application of biopolymers using a conventional field sprayer.…”