Assessment of Xanthan Gum as Potential Dust Suppressant on Lateritic Mine Haul Roads

Mine dust is a significant issue in surface mining operations, particularly on haul roads. This study investigates the potential of xanthan gum as an eco-friendly dust suppressant in nickel mines. The objectives are to assess its effectiveness in terms of infiltration depth capacity and wind erosion resistance, and determine the terms of concentration for desired performance on a lab scale level. Samples of nickel laterite soil were collected from CTP Construction and Mining Corporation, Adlay, Carrascal, Surigao del Sur, Philippines. Xanthan gum solutions at concentrations of 1g/L, 2gL, and 4g/L, along with water (mine water and deionized water) were tested. Infiltration depth and wind tunnel experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of xanthan gum. Results were analyzed through P-test, ANOVA, and Multiple Comparison test. The results showed that xanthan gum solutions achieved infiltration depths within the recommended range of 10-20 mm, outperforming both mine and deionized water. The concentration of 4g/L exhibited the lowest weight loss in the wind tunnel test, indicating superior wind erosion resistance compared to lower concentration and water. The concentration of 1g/L was found to be sufficient for desired outcomes. The use of xanthan gum presents an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional methods, reducing dust emissions and minimizing the use of hazardous chemicals in the mining industry. These findings provide valuable insights for dust control measures and lay the foundation for future research on xanthan gum as a dust suppressant.