VTechWorks staff will be away for the winter holidays starting Tuesday, December 24, 2024, through Wednesday, January 1, 2025, and will not be replying to requests during this time. Thank you for your patience, and happy holidays!
 

A Series of Studies to Support and Improve DPM Sampling in Underground Mines

dc.contributor.authorGaillard, Sarah C.en
dc.contributor.committeechairSarver, Emily A.en
dc.contributor.committeememberKeles, Cigdemen
dc.contributor.committeememberLuxbacher, Kramer Davisen
dc.contributor.departmentMining and Minerals Engineeringen
dc.date.accessioned2017-08-22T08:00:21Zen
dc.date.available2017-08-22T08:00:21Zen
dc.date.issued2017-08-21en
dc.description.abstractDiesel particulate matter (DPM) is the solid portion of diesel exhaust, which occurs primarily in the submicron range. It is complex in nature, occuring in clusters and agglomerated chains, and with variable composition depending on engine operating conditions, fuel type, equipment maintenance, etc. DPM is an occupational health hazard that has been associated with lung cancer risks and other respiratory issues. Underground miners have some of the highest exposures to DPM, due to work in confined spaces with diesel powered equipment. Large-opening mines present particular concerns because sufficient ventilation is very challenging. In such environments, reliable DPM sampling and monitoring is critical to protecting miner health. Though complex, DPM is made up primarily of elemental (EC) and organic carbon (OC), which can be summed to obtain total carbon (TC). The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) currently limits personal DPM exposures in metal/non-metal mines to 160 µg/m3 TC on an 8-hour time weighted average. To demonstrate compliance, exposures are monitored by collecting filter samples, which are sent to an outside lab and analyzed using the NIOSH 5040 Standard Method. To support real-time results, and thus more timely decision making, the Airtec handheld DPM monitor was developed. It measures EC, which is generally well correlated with TC, using a laser absorption technique as DPM accumulates on a filter sample. Though intended as a personal monitor, the Airtec has application as an engineering tool. A field study is reported here which demonstrated the usefulness of the Airtec in tracking temporal and spatial trends in DPM. An approach to sensitizing the monitor to allow "spot checking" was also demonstrated. Since DPM in mine environments generally occurs with other airborne particulates, namely dust generated during the mining process, DPM sampling must be done with consideration for analytical interferences. A common approach to dealing with mineral dust interferences is to use size selectors in the sampling train to separate DPM from dust; these devices are generally effective because DPM and dust largely occur in different size ranges. An impactor-type device (DPMI) is currently the industry standard for DPM sampling, but it is designed as a consumable device. Particularly for continuous monitoring applications, the sharp cut cyclone (SCC) has been suggested as a favorable alternative. In another field study reported here, the effect of aging (i.e., loading as an artifact of sampling) on the DPMI and SCC was investigated. Results suggest the effective cut size of the DPMI will be reduced much more rapidly than that of the SCC with aging — though even in a relatively high dust, high DPM environment, the DPMI performs adequately. In a third field study, the possibility of attachment between DPM and respirable dust particles was investigated. Such a phenomenon may have implications for both reliable sampling and health outcomes. Data collected by transmission electron microscope (TEM) on samples collected in the study mine showed that DPM-dust attachment does indeed occur. Moreover, the study results suggest that respirable particulate sampling — as opposed to submicron sampling, which is currently used — may be favorable for ensuring that oversized DPM is not excluded from samples. This strategy may require additional sample preparation to minimize dust interferences, but methods have been previously developed and were demonstrated here.en
dc.description.abstractgeneralDiesel particulate matter (DPM) is the solid portion of diesel exhaust, which occurs primarily in the submicron range (i.e., less than one micron). It generally forms as agglomerated chains or clusters. The size and shape is dependent on the engine operating conditions, fuel type, equipment maintenance, etc. DPM is an occupational health hazard that has been associated with lung cancer risks and other respiratory issues. Underground miners have some of the highest exposures to DPM, due to work in confined spaces with diesel powered equipment. In such environments, reliable DPM sampling and monitoring is critical to protecting miner health. Though complex, DPM is made up primarily of elemental (EC) and organic carbon (OC), which can be summed to obtain total carbon (TC). Exposure to DPM, as regulated by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is monitored by collecting filter samples, which are analyzed using the NIOSH 5040 Standard Method. To support real-time results, and thus more timely decision making, the Airtec handheld DPM monitor was developed. Though intended as a personal monitor, the Airtec has application as an engineering tool. A field study is reported here which demonstrated the usefulness of the Airtec in tracking changes of DPM in specific locations as well as over time. An approach to sensitizing the monitor to allow “spot checking” or making very quick assesments in a location was also demonstrated. DPM in mine environments generally occurs with other airborne particulates, namely dust generated during the mining process. Sampling must be completed to avoid these interferences by sampling DPM only. Since DPM and dust typically occur in different size ranges, size selectors in the sampling train are used to separate DPM from dust. An impactor-type device (DPMI) is currently the industry standard for DPM sampling, but it is designed as a one time use item. Particularly for continuous monitoring applications, the sharp cut cyclone (SCC) has been suggested as a favorable alternative. In another field study reported here, the effect of aging (i.e., multiple monitorings using the same size selector) on the DPMI and SCC was investigated. Results suggest the effective cut size of the DPMI will be reduced much more rapidly than that of the SCC with aging – though even in a relatively high dust, high DPM environment, the DPMI performs adequately. In a third field study, the possibility of attachment between DPM and respirable dust particles was investigated. Such a phenomenon may have implications for both reliable sampling and health outcomes. Using microscopy, samples collected in the study mine showed that DPM-dust attachment does indeed occur. Moreover, the study results suggest that respirable particulate sampling – as opposed to submicron sampling, which is currently used – may be favorable for ensuring that oversized DPM is not excluded from samples. This strategy may require additional sample preparation to minmize dust interferences, but methods have been previously developed and were demonstrated here.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:12626en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/78720en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectDiesel Particulate Matteren
dc.subjectDPMen
dc.subjectMonitoring DPMen
dc.subjectTransmission Electron Microscopeen
dc.titleA Series of Studies to Support and Improve DPM Sampling in Underground Minesen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineMining Engineeringen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Gaillard_SC_T_2017.pdf
Size:
13.94 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format

Collections