Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology

Department of Materials Engineering and Technology

College of Engineering and Technology

Air Quality Evaluation,

Air Pollution and Its Management

Submitted by:
Corbeta, Jan Melchie P.
Doniza, Krissia Mae S.
Gemida, Blesilda Blaise M.

Submitted to:
Engr. Algen Secula

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements in EM 153 (Mine Environmental Management)

April 9, 2019
 AIR POLLUTION

Definition of Air

Air is the general name for the mixture of gases that makes up the Earth's atmosphere. On the
Earth, this gas is primarily nitrogen (78 percent), with oxygen (21 percent), water vapor (variable),
argon (0.9 percent), carbon dioxide (0.04 percent), and many trace gases. Pure air has no discernible
scent and no color. Air typically contains dust, pollen, and spores. Other contaminants are referred to
as air pollution.

Definition of Air Pollution

Any visible or invisible particle or gas found in the air that is not part of the original, normal
composition of air.

Types of Air Pollutants

1. Primary Pollutants are air pollutant emitted directly from the source.
a. Carbon oxides- include carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Both are
colorless, odorless gases. CO is toxic to both plants and animals. CO and CO2 are
both greenhouse gases.
b. Nitrogen oxides- are produce when nitrogen and oxygen from the atmosphere come
together at high temperatures. This occurs in hot exhaust gas from vehicles, power
plants, or factories. Nitrogen oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are greenhouse
gases. Nitrogen oxides contribute to acid rain.
c. Sulfur oxides include sulfur dioxide (SO2) and sulfur trioxide (SO3). These form
when sulfur from burning coal reaches the air. Sulfur oxides are components of acid
rain.
d. Particulates- are solid particles, such as ash, dust, and fecal matter. They are
commonly form from combustion of fossil fuels, and can produce smog.
e. Lead was once widely used in automobile fuels, paint, and pipes. This heavy metal
can cause brain damage or blood poisoning.
f. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are mostly hydrocarbons. Important VOCs
include methane, chlorofluorocarbons (human-made compounds that are being
phased out because of their effect on the ozone layer), and dioxin (a byproduct of
chemical production that serves no useful purpose, but is harmful to humans and
other organisms).
g. Particulate matter is the sum of all solid and liquid particles suspended in air many of
which are hazardous. This complex mixture includes both organic and inorganic
particles, such as dust, pollen, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets. These particles vary
greatly in size, composition, and origin.
2. Secondary Pollutants is not directly emitted as such, but forms when other pollutants
(primary pollutants) react in the atmosphere and even more dangerous than primary.
a. Photochemical smog forms when car exhaust is exposed to sunlight. Nitrogen oxide
is created by gas combustion in cars and then into the air. In the presence of sunshine,
the NO2 splits and releases an oxygen ion (O). The O then combines with an oxygen
molecule (O2) to form ozone (O3). This reaction can also go in reverse: Nitric oxide
(NO) removes an oxygen atom from ozone to make it O2. The direction the reaction
goes depends on how much NO2 and NO there is. If NO2 is three times more
abundant than NO, ozone will be produced. If nitric oxide levels are high, ozone will
not be created.
 b. Ozone is one of the major secondary pollutants. It is created by a chemical reaction
that takes place in exhaust and in the presence of sunlight. The gas is acrid-smelling
and whitish. Warm, dry cities surrounded by mountains, such as Los Angeles,
Phoenix, and Denver, are especially prone to photochemical smog. Photochemical
smog peaks at midday on the hottest days of summer. Ozone is also a greenhouse gas.
Sources of Pollution

There are four main types of air pollution sources:

 mobile sources – such as cars, buses, planes, trucks, and trains
 stationary sources – such as power plants, oil refineries, industrial facilities, and factories
 area sources – such as agricultural areas, cities, and wood burning fireplaces
 natural sources – such as wind-blown dust, wildfires, and volcanoes

Air Pollution in Mining

Particulate Matter- Pollutants that mining operations gives off in the air.

Airborne emissions occur during each stage of the mine cycle, but especially during
exploration, development, construction, and operational activities. Mining operations mobilize large
amounts of material, and waste piles containing small size particles are easily dispersed by the wind.

The largest sources of air pollution in mining operations are:

• Particulate matter transported by the wind as a result of excavations, blasting,

transportation of materials, wind erosion (more frequent in open-pit mining), fugitive dust from
tailings facilities, stockpiles, waste dumps, and haul roads. Exhaust emissions from mobile sources
(cars, trucks, heavy equipment) raise these particulate levels; and

• Gas emissions from the combustion of fuels in stationary and mobile sources,
explosions, and mineral processing.

Mobile sources

Mobile sources of air pollutants include heavy vehicles used in excavation operations, cars
that transport personnel at the mining site, and trucks that transport mining materials. The level of
polluting emissions from these sources depends on the fuel and conditions of the equipment. Even
though individual emissions can be relatively small, collectively these emissions can be of real
concern. In addition, mobile sources are a major source of particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and
volatile organic compounds that contribute significantly to the formation of ground-level ozone.

Stationary sources

The main gaseous emissions are from combustion of fuels in power generation installations,
and drying, roasting, and smelting operations. Many producers of precious metals smelt metal on-site,
prior to shipping to off-site refineries. Typically, gold and silver are produced in melting/fluxing
furnaces that may produce elevated levels of airborne mercury, arsenic, sulfur dioxide, and other
metals.
Fugitive emissions
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines ‘fugitive emissions’ as “those emissions
which could not reasonably pass through a stack, chimney, vent or other functionally-equivalent
opening.” Common sources of fugitive emissions include: storage and handling of materials; mine
processing; fugitive dust, blasting, construction activities, and roadways associated with mining
activities; leach pads, and tailing piles and ponds; and waste rock piles.

Mining operations and Particulate Matter

1. Overburden removal: Overburden removal is first unit operation in surface mining. During
this activity, overlying materials are removed to expose the mineral. Air pollution is a major
concern during the removal and transports of the overburden materials. This operation
therefore, is the first stage of PM production for a surface mine.
2. Drilling: Drilling is second step of unit operation of surface mining. Drilling produce
significant amount of PM. Depend on size, shape and dispersion parameter, then PM may
remain in atmosphere for a very long time. Drill holes are then charged with explosives and
blasted to loosen the mineral.
3. Loading of material: this process involves loading of blasted material onto the transporting
mechanism. Material is composed of particles of sizes. Depending on air velocity these
particles become airborne.
4. Transport: Ore from mine site is transported to processing site by transport machines. The
pollution is very high at the point of loading and unloading point. During transport, hauls road
becomes a major source of airborne particle due to road- tyre interaction. For friable material,
if uncovered, direct emissions during transport also contribute to air pollution.
5. Blasting: blasting is third step of unit operations of surface mining by which the overburden
and minerals is loosened so that these can be excavated by excavations and loaded on to
dumpers or other transport system. Blasting results in short term exposure of particulate
pollutant, but the concentration of pollutant is very high.
6. Unloading of material: When the material is unloaded from dumpers, depending on the
height of discharge and air current, the severity of air pollution varies. Transfer points in
conveyor system are the locations where dust generation is maximum.

Coal Mine

Air pollution from coal mines is mainly due to emissions of particulate matter and gases including
methane (CH4), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and oxides of nitrogen (NOx), as well as carbon monoxide
(CO).

Copper Mine

Based on a study in Palabora Mining Company, small amount of copper in the form of oxides
(cuprospinel) and significant amount of sulphides (chalcopyrite) are found in the waste copper smelter
dust.

Gold Mine

Mercury is a naturally occurring element in some gold ore, which is primarily released into the air
during the ore-heating stage of gold extraction.

Nickel Mine: Nickel mines and smelters releases plumes of sulphur dioxide and cancerous dust.
 AIR MANAGEMENT

Air Pollution Management

It aims at the elimination, or reduction to acceptable levels, of airborne gaseous pollutants,

suspended particulate matter, physical and, to a certain extent, biological agents whose presence in the
atmosphere can cause adverse effects on human health. To put it simply, it is to reduce or eliminate
the air pollutants from air which is harmful for humans and other organisms.

Policy for Air Quality Management

The State in order to pursue a policy of balancing development and environmental protection,
a policy was created to manage air quality in the Philippines, this is: Republic Act No. 8749. It is a
comprehensive air quality management policy and program which aims to achieve and maintain
healthy air for all Filipinos. It was approved on June 23, 1999 and the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR) through the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), is the lead
agency in the implementation and enforcement of RA 8749. They identified three potential sources of
air pollution covered by the Clean Air Act and these are mobile, stationary and area sources.

Management of Stationary Sources: Mining Industry

Surface Mining:

In surface mining, a massive overburden will have to be removed to reach the mineral deposits.
This may require excavators, loaders, conveyor belts, etc., which will results in massive discharge of
fine particulate from the overburden materials. The volume and variety of airborne dust particles in
the ambient air is increasing and causing air pollution problem.

Dust Management:

1. Dust Prevention System – humidity or moisture content in the material is increased to prevent
dust from becoming airborne. Moisture is added directly to the material.
 Water sprays are used at dumping, transport, transfer points and
stockpiling/reclaiming (operations requiring dust prevention).

2. Dust Suppression System – humidity or moisture is added to the air to capture dust particles
that are already airborne.
 Water sprays are used at conveying, shearing, continuous mining, crushing and
screening, dryers, transfer points, packaging/filling.
 Mist cannon - are the ultimate tool for large-scale dust suppression. Uses remote
control (can be controlled from a safe distance; vehicle cab, office control room.)
 Used of Chemicals - water spraying requires huge quantity of water but due to its
scarcity, suitable chemicals which act as wetting agents are added to it to reduce
water consumption for dust suppression. The chemicals helps wetting of the finer
sizes of dust and increase efficiency of wetting. Coal, for example, repels water and
usually requires the use of chemical additives to increase absorption.
 3. Dust Collection System - an air quality improvement system that removes particulate
matter from the air and environment by arresting or filtering the dust-laden air. This system
work on the basic formula of capture, convey and collect. This system comprises of ducts,
cyclone and an impeller.

Underground Mining:

There are three things that we need to manage concerning air in underground mine, first is on
how to supply sufficient amount of air, second is how to remove or dilute toxic and noxious gases
present in the mine, and last is on dust management.

Air Management:

Mine ventilation is a process of providing adequate quantity and removing or diluting harmful
gases of air underground. To ensure sufficient oxygen and limited harmful gases, ventilation has been
developed to ensure safe working conditions. Fundamental elements are:

1. Fans - are the most important component of any mine ventilation system as they generate the
amount of air flow required to clear toxic fumes while creating enough pressure to do so.
(Main Fans, Booster Fans, Auxiliary Fans)

2. Airways – air route, are divided into two groups, those carrying fresh air into the workings
("intake airways") and those carrying used air back out ("return airways")

3. Control Devices – these are stoppings, doors, airlocks, regulators and air crossings.

Mine Gas Management:

Methane:

The ventilation systems move the diluted methane out of the working areas of the mine into shafts
leading to the surface. The methane removed from working mines via this technique is known as
Ventilation Air Methane (VAM). Often, it is not possible to increase the volume and velocity of the
ventilating air necessary to dilute the gas. A safe mine atmosphere could be maintained by
approaching the problem in another manner. Instead of allowing the methane to drain into the mine
atmosphere during mining, it could be removed before mining.

Cross-measure borehole method is the most widely used degasification technique for removing
methane from the coal formations before and during mining. In this method, the gas is collected by
free flow and vacuum pumping from boreholes and is piped to the surface.

Carbon Monoxide:

After a blast, CO can migrate through the ground and into underground enclosed spaces. CO may
not appear for several hours, but once it does appear, it can linger for several days. The results
reported suggest that application of negative pressure to a borehole is the most effective way to
remove CO from the ground. An available source of negative pressure is the dust collector on the drill
rig. By placing the drill boom over an existing open hole near the blast, the dust collector would be
large enough to create a negative pressure at a high flow rate.
Carbon Dioxide:

Carbon dioxide scrubber is a piece of equipment that absorbs carbon dioxide (CO2). It is used to
treat exhaust gases from industrial plants or from exhaled air in life support systems.

These three gases (Methane, Carbon Dioxide and Carbon Monoxide) are the most frequent
gases subjected by Permanent Environmental Monitors.

Dust Management:

Same dust control system in surface mine (dust prevention, suppression and collection system) are
use in underground, especially the water sprays but there are specific equipment added and these are:

1. Water Jet Assisted Rock Cutting

2. Drill Rig Dust Collector

Management of Mobile Sources:

 The complete phase out of leaded gasoline before the end of the year 2000
 Control over engine-out emissions (replace older/dirty engines, establish an emission’s based
maintenance program)

Management of Area Sources:

Area sources of pollution are by nature complicated to manage because of the lack of distinct
points for regulation such as a stack for stationary sources and tailpipe for mobile sources. Area
sources encompass diverse activities and sectors – construction, forest fire, biomass or garbage
burning, fireworks/firecrackers use, among others.

 Smoking ban
 Ban on waste burning under the RA 9003.
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