Moisture tolerant rock dust and methods of application thereof
AssigneeImerys USA, Inc.
InventorsChristopher Paynter, Douglas Wicks, David Anstine
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Abstract
Compositions and methods of using rock dust are disclosed. A mine rock dust may be capable of being applied in a wet form. A moisture tolerant mine rock dust may include a hydrophobic inorganic particulate material. A moisture tolerant mine rock dust may be capable of being dispersed by a light blast of air. A method may include applying a mine rock dust at a concentration having little or no respirable mine rock dust. A method of applying a mine rock dust may include applying a mine rock dust in a wet form. The mine rock dust may be applied at a concentration having little or no respirable mine rock dust. The mine rock dust may include a hydrophobic inorganic particulate material.
Claims13
A method of inerting coal dust, comprising:
- combining a surface-treated hydrophobic inorganic particulate material with water to form a mine rock dust composition;
- applying the mine rock dust composition in the form of a non-foaming slurry;
- wherein the surface of the inorganic particulate material is treated with a fatty acid, salt thereof, or ester thereof;
- and
- wherein the surface treatment level of the inorganic particulate material ranges from 0.1 wt % to 5.0 wt % based on the weight of the inorganic particulate material.
A method of applying a mine rock dust composition, comprising:
- combining a surface-treated hydrophobic inorganic particulate material with water to form a mine rock dust composition;
- applying the mine rock dust composition in the form of a non-foaming slurry at a concentration having no respirable mine rock dust;
- wherein the mine rock dust composition renders coal dust explosively inert;
- wherein the surface of the inorganic particulate material is treated with a fatty acid, salt thereof, or ester thereof;
- and
- wherein the surface treatment level of the inorganic particulate material ranges from 0.1 wt % to 5.0 wt % based on the weight of the inorganic particulate material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.