Assessing the Moisture Retention Capacity of Saline Water (Seawater) as a Watering Material for Limestone Haulage Roads

Airborne dust poses significant challenges in limestone mining operations, affecting environmental quality, health, and operational efficiency. This study focuses on assessing the moisture retention capacity of saline water, specifically seawater, as a watering material for limestone haulage roads by conducting tests to evaluate its moisture retention capacity. Moisture retention capacity is determined by using two (2) tests: wind tunnel test and heat test (oven test). Wind tunnel test assesses the effectiveness of seawater in retaining moisture under specific wind speed, time, and mix ratios. While the oven test analyzes weight reduction in limestone–water samples subjected to temperature, time, and mix ratios. These experiments provide quantitative data on moisture retention capabilities of different watering materials: seawater, groundwater, and deionized water. The results of the two tests show that limestone samples treated with seawater exhibit higher moisture retention compared to those treated with groundwater and deionized water, indicating the superior effectiveness of saline water as a spraying material. By adopting seawater as a watering material, mining companies can reduce their fresh water usage and enhance their dust control efforts, resulting in improved environmental conditions and worker health. In summary, this thesis presents laboratory experiments, including wind tunnel tests and oven tests, to assess the moisture retention capacity of seawater as a watering material for dust suppression on limestone haulage roads. The findings contribute to the understanding of effective dust control strategies in the mining industry and provide practical recommendations for implementing saline water-based dust suppression methods in limestone mining operations.