RECYCLING and waste processing are among the top producers of atmospheric dust in Australia. Once dust is generated, circulation is difficult to control, affecting worker health, machinery, and spreading to neighbouring land. As the industry enters peak dust season, Pollutex Dust Suppression System offers a solution.
ASD GmbH, located in Germany, specialises in the processing of construction debris.
With a processing capacity of up to 100 tonnes per hour, the company uses an impact mill, sieve, and magnetic separator that classifies material into granulations of 0-32 and >32. The discharge takes place at a height of 10 metres.
The company previously relied on a water spray system to reduce dust but was dissatisfied with the results. Water use can lead to moisture problems and often evaporates quickly. Insufficient
dust suppression led to environmental strain and conflict with those companies surrounding them.
Pollutex Dust Suppression System
While looking for a viable solution ASD came across the Pollutex Dust Suppression System. Recently developed in Germany, the system uses a unique foam application, Pallax, which is biodegradable.
To produce the solution, an average of 99 litres of water is mixed with 1 litre of Pallax foam. Adding air under variable pressure conditions creates an increase in volume with a long shelf life. Twelve hundred litres of foam are obtained from 100 litres of solution.
The system was implemented as a retrofit solution in ASD’s older facility, which operated without extraction or enclosure. By using the foam, dust was suppressed at the source, therefore improving air quality. Additionally, neighbourhood conflicts were resolved.
In Australia, the Pollutex system is distributed by CEMAC technologies. Easy to install and maintain, consisting of a dosing pump, a foam mixer and foam nozzles, it is versatile and suitable for various materials and applications. The foam immediately binds to dust particles, preventing them from entering the air.
Pallax foam can be effective for one to two weeks after application, which means that the material is not only processed dust-free, but can also be sorted and transported without dust production.
Unlike dust extraction solutions, there is also no additional waste product that needs to be taken away. Furthermore, the system contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing dust emissions and minimising environmental impact.
“Dust suppression benefits both short- and long-term workplace safety and lowers machine maintenance costs, making dust suppression not just a convenience but a necessity to protect worker and community health and preserve equipment longevity,” said CEMAC’s sales specialist, Kurt Palmer.
Future-proofing
Using the system, ASD not only resolved its dust issues but also found a future-proof solution for its facility. By optimising working conditions, resolving neighbourhood conflicts, and making a positive environmental impact, Pollutex has met ASD’s requirements.
The results have not only impressed customers in Germany but also piqued the interest of numerous international clients including those in Australia.
Pallax foam is suitable for a wide range of materials including waste wood, rubble, glass, textiles, paper, plastics, metal, and e-waste.
Article printed in Oct/Nov edition of Inside Waste, 2023.