Enhancing wind erosion resistance in arid mines: Development and field validation of a novel bio-based dust suppressant

Amid the widespread adoption of fully mechanized mining technology, dust pollution in Chinese mines has become increasingly severe. Compared to traditional dust control methods, dust suppressants have emerged as an important and cost-effective technological approach for enhancing dust management outcomes. This study engineered a composite dust suppressant premised on traditional single-chemical dust suppression principles, leveraging fenugreek gum as a binding agent to augment wind erosion resistance and adhesion. Field application experiments were executed in the 926 and 830 tunnels of Xinjiang Kalatongke Mining to corroborate the suppressant's effectiveness. Key performance parameters, including dust concentration, particle size distribution, compressive strength, and wind erosion resistance, were appraised. The experimental outcomes evinced that a spraying dosage of 2 kg/m² of the dust suppressant efficaciously meets practical dust control imperatives. Under this dosage, the total dust concentration was sustained below 0.2 mg/m³. The proportion of dust particles with a diameter of approximately 100 μm dwindled from 5.7% to 0.3%, while those around 1000 μm declined from 10.8% to 5.3%. Samples treated with the suppressant exhibited a breaking time 6.2 times longer than untreated samples and 2.2 times longer than water-treated samples. The breaking strength of the suppressant-treated samples was 9.8 times that of untreated samples and 2.5 times that of water-treated samples. The composite dust suppressant significantly reduces dust concentrations in underground tunnels, improves dust control efficiency, and enhances the wind erosion resistance and adhesion of the dust crust layer. It provides a clear direction for developing wind erosion- and compaction-resistant composite dust suppressants and offers an effective solution for efficient dust control in arid, high-dust-generation mining areas.<i>Implications</i>: This dust suppressant provides a highly effective and practical solution to control dust in high-traffic areas, directly addressing the critical issue of dust concentrations exceeding national safety standards. It enhances production efficiency by improving visibility and equipment longevity, while crucially safe guarding worker health by reducing the risk of respiratory diseases.