Dust-A-Side - Dust Control Management for the Mining Industry

Dust poses a huge threat to people, the environment and machinery on mines. When disturbed, dust creates poor visibility, loss of production due to machinery downtime and irreversible respiratory disease. Dust control is increasingly featuring in environmental health and safety legislation.

Our main concern at Dust-A-Side (DAS) is to deliver a dust control service, enabling mines to provide a better, healthier working environment underground and on the surface.

DUST-A-SIDE DUST CONTROL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR THE MINING SECTOR

Dust-A-Side is a South African based company specializing in a total dust control management system for the mining sector. Dust-A-Side has channeled more than 20 years' research and development into creating safer and more efficient mining practices.

The Dust-A-Side total dust control management system consists of a range of dust binding products and a comprehensive construction and continuous maintenance programme. It is successfully used in underground and surface applications in iron ore, coal, platinum, gold, diamond, copper, zinc and nickel mines. The programme comprises three elements; products, machinery and roads.

Dust-A-Side uses a natural petroleum resin emulsion to treat dust in an environmentally friendly process. Dust-A-Side can either provide the machinery necessary to apply the products or can enter into a joint venture with the customer.

THE DUST CONTROL MANAGEMENT PROCESS

Proper preparation of the untreated surface is a guarantee for a perfect, long-lasting, dust-free, low-maintenance road surface. After the road has been pre-shaped according to specification, the prepared surface is ripped and then sprayed with a Dust-A-Side product.

Once chemical break has occurred, the product will not wash out or leach. The road is finally shaped and compacted, except where compaction is part of the haul process. Once the road has been established, the maintenance management system ensures an ongoing dust-free road network.

STOPSEAL SEALANT FOR VENTILATION WALLS AND AIR CROSSINGS

Stopseal is a non-flammable, water-based, bitumen rubber emulsion used for sealing off ventilation walls and air-crossings - it is also used in sealing off evaporation dams. It is used in combination with a membrane to seal off areas where airflow leakage and waterproofing are problems. Stopseal is suitable for underground use.

HYDRO PLUS WETTING AGENT FOR DUST REMOVAL

Hydro Plus acts as a wetting agent, increasing the wetting ability of water on particles such as coal. A finer droplet is obtained by reducing the surface tension of the water, thus increasing the surface coverage. The result is that more dust is removed per volume of water used in the sprays.

DUST BIND FOR PARTICLE BINDING TO PREVENT DUST DRIFTING

Dustbind is a natural wood resin-emulsion encrusting agent, formulated to penetrate and bind soil, coal and other particles to prevent dust drifting and dust liberation from occurring. Dustbind binds surface particles on rail trucks to prevent wind from removing particles.

This product is also used effectively for spraying over stockpiles, preventing dust from being generated under windy conditions. Dustbind can be applied by water trucks or by spraying systems.

HYDRO FOAM - FOR DUST CONTROL WITH MINIMAL WATER

DAS Hydro Foam is an environmentally friendly, safe product that can be used to combat dust areas where excessive water is a potential problem. The ideal application for Hydro Foam is in areas where processing equipment (e.g. crushers, augers, transfer points, conveyor belts, stack out areas) are used.

Hydro Foam was developed to combat and prevent dust by expanding water for application where excessive water can lead to other problems. The product creates micro-bubbles that are applied to areas, including crushers, augers, transfer points, conveyor belts, drill sites, stack-out areas and reclaim areas, amongst others. Hydro Foam requires less than two litres of water per ton treated.