Design of Low-Cost and High-Efficiency Dust Absorption Systems in Mining Sites: An Applied Study in Arid Environments

Abstract

Motivation and Purpose of Research: Industrial dust and airborne particulates generated from mining operations such as rock drilling, blasting, crushing, and raw material transport pose severe occupational, environmental, economic, and social threats. Prolonged exposure leads to incurable respiratory diseases like silicosis and COPD, while also accelerating equipment wear and degrading local air quality. While conventional water spraying is widely used, it is highly ineffective and unsustainable in arid climates like Sudan, where extreme water scarcity makes traditional suppression impractical. Furthermore, commercially available mechanical separation systems are heavily restricted by high costs and a lack of skilled maintenance labor in developing regions. This study aims to bridge this literature gap by designing a low-cost, high-efficiency, and locally adaptable dust absorption system explicitly engineered for resource-constrained, arid mining environments. Research Methods and Results: The research outlines an innovative engineering methodology that utilizes affordable, locally sourced, and recycled materials to capture fine particulate matter at the source. The proposed system configuration consists of: • Local suction hoods positioned at high-emission points such as crushing and unloading zones. • Air ducts constructed from affordable PVC piping or local sheet metal. • A primary mechanical separation unit consisting of a metallic cyclone separator fabricated out of standard barrels or sheet metal. • A secondary separation unit using either manually cleaned fabric filters or simple wet scrubbers attached to sedimentation tanks. • A continuous suction airflow driven by a reused or locally sourced axial or centrifugal fan/blower, discharging clean air through elevated stacks. To quantify the urgency of this intervention, the study categorizes the degrees of mining dust harm (mild, moderate, severe, and critical). The research data demonstrates that severe and critical impacts such as systemic biodiversity loss, extensive community air pollution, and permanent respiratory disabilities account for 35% and 15% (totaling 50%) of all mining impacts, respectively. Methodological evaluations indicate that the implementation of this low-cost system can successfully reduce airborne dust concentrations by 60% to 80% compared to uncontrolled conditions, while dramatically mitigating water dependency. Conclusions and Future Plan: The proposed dust absorption system offers a scalable, sustainable, and highly cost-effective alternative to traditional water suppression, matching operational efficiency with long-term financial viability in arid zones. By successfully treating industrial pollutants and preserving vital resources, this design directly aligns with multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Future plans for this research involve initiating practical field trials and compiling detailed performance documentation. These steps are recommended to validate system optimization under real-time conditions, expand the engineering literature on low-cost solutions, and establish an operational framework for gradual system scaling in small-to-medium mining operations.

Keywords

Applied Science - Engineering, Convergence Science - Environmental Science, Convergence Science - Invention and Design

Citation

References

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