ABSTRACT

Both natural and anthropogenic fugitive dust can cause serious hazards to the environment and human health. In this study, the development of biodegradable dust suppressants and their environmental impacts were evaluated. Biodegradable dust suppressants were prepared using various biomass-based polymeric materials such as crude glycerol (a by-product of biodiesel manufacturing), biodiesel, palm oil, cooking oil, seaweed mixtures, wakame (Undaria pinnatifida), and red algae. The results of wind-tunnel tests with Korean standard sand demonstrated that spraying diluted mixtures of crude glycerol and biomass materials can significantly reduce the generation of dust. The optimal molar mixing ratio of crude glycerol and the biomass materials was 1:1, and the optimal dilution concentration was determined to be 100 times for the mixture of crude glycerol and biodiesel, palm oil, and cooking oil and 50 times for the mixture of crude glycerol with a seaweed mixture, wakame, and red algae. The suppression ability was 83.4%, 60.4%, 99.5%, and 98.1% for the mixtures of glycerol with soybean oil, palm oil, wakame, and red algae, respectively. The mixtures of glycerol plus wakame or red algae were the most efficient suppressants; they also have substantial biodegradability. Our results suggest that the mixture of crude glycerol with the various oils or the seaweeds may be a promising option to develop nontoxic biodegradable dust suppressants.

Implications: Since the early 2010s, anthropogenic fugitive dust from industrial activities has become a serious environmental issue due to its serious hazards to the environment and human health in South Korea. The origin and responsibility of the dusts is still disputable to prepare appropriate actions to take, which could be solved by scientific collaboration with surrounding countries. Regardless, domestic efforts to reduce the generation of fine dust from various sources should also be made. So far, several dust suppressants (mostly salts) were made and used for field application. However, due to their toxic effects, it is necessary to develop a new eco-friendly suppressant that can be biodegraded in the soil and that is not hazardous to human health or the environment. In this study, we try to develop an eco-friendly dust suppressant with low toxicity, to evaluate various potential dust suppressants, and to propose promising candidate products for commercialization and mass production. Ingredients and by-products of biodiesel production, marine biomass, and commercial vegetable oils were selected for the synthesis of suppressants. The optimal mixing ratio was determined, and the suppression ability was evaluated via wind tunnel tests. Considering biodegradability, the most effective suppressants were determined.

摘要

自然和人为扬尘都会对环境和人类健康造成严重危害。本研究评估了可生物降解抑尘剂的开发及其对环境的影响。使用各种基于生物质的聚合材料制备可生物降解的抑尘剂，例如粗甘油（生物柴油制造的副产品）、生物柴油、棕榈油、食用油、海藻混合物、裙带菜（Undaria pinnatifida)、红藻。韩国标准沙风洞试验结果表明，喷洒粗甘油和生物质材料的稀释混合物可以显着减少粉尘的产生。粗甘油与生物质原料的最佳摩尔混合比为1:1，最佳稀释浓度确定为粗甘油与生物柴油、棕榈油和食用油的混合物为100倍，与生物质的混合物为50倍。粗甘油与海藻混合物、裙带菜和红藻。甘油与豆油、棕榈油、裙带菜和红藻的混合物的抑制能力分别为83.4%、60.4%、99.5%和98.1%。甘油加裙带菜或红藻的混合物是最有效的抑制剂；它们还具有显着的生物降解性。

影响：自 2010 年代初以来，工业活动产生的人为扬尘对韩国的环境和人类健康造成严重危害，已成为一个严重的环境问题。尘埃的来源和责任仍然存在争议，以准备采取适当的行动，这可以通过与周边国家的科学合作来解决。无论如何，国内也应该努力减少各种来源的细尘的产生。到目前为止，已经制造并用于现场应用的几种抑尘剂（主要是盐类）。然而，由于它们的毒性作用，有必要开发一种可以在土壤中生物降解且对人类健康或环境无害的新型环保抑制剂。在这项研究中，我们尝试开发一种低毒的环保抑尘剂，评估各种潜在的抑尘剂，并为商业化和大规模生产提出有前景的候选产品。选择生物柴油生产的成分和副产品、海洋生物质和商业植物油来合成抑制剂。确定最佳混合比，并通过风洞试验评估抑制能力。考虑到生物降解性，确定了最有效的抑制剂。