THE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTIVENESS OF HUMATE REAGENT IN INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL HYDRO-FILLING OF QUARRIES.

Purpose. To develop an environmentally friendly technology for drilling and blasting operations in quarries that will ensure effective degassing and dust suppression during mass explosions by using a natural humate reagent in internal and external hydro-filling. Methodology. The study used a set of research methods: analytical – to establish the main technical and economic indicators that affect the cost of drilling and blasting operations; technical and economic analysis – to establish the relationship between the cost of operations, air pollution after massive explosions and types of hydro-fillings and concentrations of humate reagent. Findings. The paper presents the results of pilot tests of the effectiveness of applying the humate reagent in the preliminary humidification of blocks and its use in internal and external hydro-filling, which leads to a significant reduction in dust formation and degassing of mass explosions. During the period of production research from 2017 to 2021, the environmental efficiency of the use of internal and external hydro-filling with the use of humate reagent TU U 20.5-43384697-001:2020 was confirmed at the enterprises of the Metinvest Holding: PJSC Inhulets Mining and Processing Plant, Pivnichnyi Mining and Processing Plant, Tsentralnyi Mining and Processing Plant, as well as ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, JSC Pivdennyi Mining and Processing Plant and Rudomain LLC. When using an aqueous solution of humate reagent with a concentration of 3 % in internal and external hydrofilling, the environmental effect involves on average: dust suppression – 54 %; neutralization of carbon monoxide – 62 %; neutralization of nitrogen oxides – 55 %. The results of industrial tests have confirmed scientific hypotheses regarding the processes of binding dust particles in the dust and gas cloud, as well as the effect of neutralizing explosive gases. Originality. Dependences of the concentration of humate reagent in internal and external hydro-filling and binding of dust particles during mass explosions with environmental efficiency in terms of dust and gas suppression were established. Industrial research will allow confirming the scientific hypothesis about the neutralization of CO by a humate reagent in mass explosions, which is based on the Langmuir theory. Practical value. An eco-oriented technology of drilling and blasting operations in quarries has been developed which is based on using humate reagents in internal and external hydro-filling and allows industrial enterprises using massive explosions to reduce dust, carbon and nitrogen oxide emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]