Research of the physico-chemical properties of hydrogel as a means of dust-explosion protection and dust reduction in coal mines

Explosive coal dust, along with methane, in case of non-compliance with the procedure and schedule for carrying out explosion protection measures or their insufficient effectiveness are a tremendous danger to mine workers and enterprise infrastructure. This is confirmed by the explosions of dust-methane-air mixtures that occur with frightening frequency – almost every 3–5 years. Rock dusting of mine workings, which is today the dominant method of preventing explosions of accumulated coal dust, is applicable mainly to «dry» workings and is effective only if an inert material is applied in an amount not less than the calculated one, in compliance with the regulated frequency. Carrying out these procedures is accompanied by a sharp increase in dustiness, which reduces visibility and, as a result, increases the risk of incidents, injuries and the development of pulmonary diseases among workers. In order to improve the labor safety of coal mine workers, the authors of the article propose to consider a weakly concentrated aqueous solution of subabsorbent (hydrogel) as a means of dust and explosion protection. Its main advantages are environmental friendliness, relative harmlessness, efficiency, high water-holding capacity, due to which explosive coal dust will be wet for a long time on the surface of mine workings and will not be able to turn into an aerosol. The article presents the results of laboratory studies of the chemical composition of the subabsorbent brand «Aquasin-P» or «Hydroplast», as well as a number of physical properties of hydrogels prepared on its basis (viscosity, fluidity, drying time mixed with coal dust).

Kornev A. V., Spitsyn A. A., Zaimentseva L. A., Zubko M. V. Research of the physico-chemical properties of hydrogel as a means of dust-explosion protection and dust reduction in coal mines. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2023;(9-1):180-198. [In Russ]. DOI: 10. 25018/0236_1493_2023_91_0_180.

A.V. Kornev¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Associate Professor, e-mail: Kornev_AV@pers.spmi.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0001-6371-9969,
A.A. Spitsyn¹, Graduate Student, e-mail: spitsyn1998@inbox.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0003-1148-6109,
L.A. Zaimentseva, 2nd Category Engineer, LLC «Gazprom processing», Saint-Petersburg, 194044, Russia, e-mail: zaimentseva@bk.ru, ORCID ID: 0009-0008-5948-6435,
M.V. Zubko¹, Student, e-mail: zubko.mihail@lenta.ru, ORCID ID: 0009-0006-9100-5190,
¹ Saint-Petersburg Mining University, 199106, Saint-Petersburg, Russia.

A.V. Kornev, e-mail: Kornev_AV@pers.spmi.ru.

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