Effectiveness of a Novel Biopolymer-Based Mulch in Reducing Particulate Emissions from Iron Ore Concentrate Piles Located in Arid Lands

نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی

نویسندگان

1 دانشکده کشاورزی و منابع طبیعی، گروه مهندسی طبیعت، دانشگاه اردکان، یزد اردکان.

2 دانشکده مهندسی نساجی، دانشگاه یزد، یزد، ایران

3 پژوهش و توسعه مجتمع صنعتی چادرملو، شرکت معدنی و صنعتی چادرملو، یزد، ایران

4 گروه شیمی، دانشکده علوم، دانشگاه پیام نور اردکان، یزد، ایران.

‎10.22052/deej.2026.258005.1128

چکیده

In the mining and steel industry situated in arid lands, significant concentrations of particulate matter (PM) are emitted from raw material storage sites, particularly from iron ore piles and concentrate storage piles. In this study, the effectiveness of BDS mulches, a novel biopolymer-based mulch, was compared with slurry lime and sugarcane molasses as conventional compounds for covering iron concentrate storage piles to control wind erosion. The experiments were conducted using a factorial design within a randomized complete block design. BDS at concentrations of 1% and 2%, slurry lime at 10%, and molasses at 20% solution concentrations were prepared. Each treatment was sprayed onto three trays filled with concentrate. The prepared sample trays were subjected to wind erosion tests in a wind tunnel after 1, 2, and 3 weeks following preparation. Among the selected treatments, BDS at 2% (BDS2%) exhibited the highest efficiency, reducing wind erosion to 0.34 kg/m²/h compared to 2.1 kg/m²/h in the control treatment, and increasing the erosion threshold velocity to 54 km/h, whereas the control had a threshold of only 26 km/h. Slurry lime offered lower resistance to wind erosion, with an erosion rate of 1.8 kg/m²/h and a threshold velocity of 39.6 km/h. The effectiveness of molasses and BDS at 1% (BDS1%) was similar, with erosion rates of 1.1 and 1.2 kg/m²/h, and threshold velocities of 47.5 and 48.2 km/h, respectively. Moreover, the effectiveness of the mulches diminished over time, with erosion rates increasing by an average of 35–50% from week 1 to week 3. Considering the advantages of the new material—including environmental compatibility, no negative effects on pellet quality, and favorable efficiency in protecting against wind erosion—it can replace conventional compounds as a mulch for iron concentrate piles.

کلیدواژه‌ها

موضوعات

عنوان مقاله [English]

Effectiveness of a Novel Biopolymer-Based Mulch in Reducing Particulate Emissions from Iron Ore Concentrate Piles Located in Arid Lands

نویسندگان [English]

  • Fatemeh Roustaei 1
  • Mohammad Khajeh Mehrizi 2
  • Hasan Akhiri 3
  • Jafar Mahmudi 4
1 Department of Nature Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Ardakan University, P.O. Box 184, Ardakan, Iran.
2 Department of textile engineering, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran
3 Chadormalu Industrial Complex Research and Development, Chadormalu Mining and Industrial Company, Yazd, Iran
4 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Payam-e Nour University of Ardakan, Yazd, Iran.
چکیده [English]

In the mining and steel industry situated in arid lands, significant concentrations of particulate matter (PM) are emitted from raw material storage sites, particularly from iron ore piles and concentrate storage piles. In this study, the effectiveness of BDS mulches, a novel biopolymer-based mulch, was compared with slurry lime and sugarcane molasses as conventional compounds for covering iron concentrate storage piles to control wind erosion. The experiments were conducted using a factorial design within a randomized complete block design. BDS at concentrations of 1% and 2%, slurry lime at 10%, and molasses at 20% solution concentrations were prepared. Each treatment was sprayed onto three trays filled with concentrate. The prepared sample trays were subjected to wind erosion tests in a wind tunnel after 1, 2, and 3 weeks following preparation. Among the selected treatments, BDS at 2% (BDS2%) exhibited the highest efficiency, reducing wind erosion to 0.34 kg/m²/h compared to 2.1 kg/m²/h in the control treatment, and increasing the erosion threshold velocity to 54 km/h, whereas the control had a threshold of only 26 km/h. Slurry lime offered lower resistance to wind erosion, with an erosion rate of 1.8 kg/m²/h and a threshold velocity of 39.6 km/h. The effectiveness of molasses and BDS at 1% (BDS1%) was similar, with erosion rates of 1.1 and 1.2 kg/m²/h, and threshold velocities of 47.5 and 48.2 km/h, respectively. Moreover, the effectiveness of the mulches diminished over time, with erosion rates increasing by an average of 35–50% from week 1 to week 3. Considering the advantages of the new material—including environmental compatibility, no negative effects on pellet quality, and favorable efficiency in protecting against wind erosion—it can replace conventional compounds as a mulch for iron concentrate piles.

کلیدواژه‌ها [English]

  • Mulch
  • BDS
  • Wind Erosion
  • Threshold Velocity

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مهندسی اکوسیستم بیابان
دوره 15، شماره 50
خرداد 1405
صفحه 35-51

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