DIY dust control?

[scott85]

I’m not taking sides here but I have a question, what’s the difference between a fine mist of oil on a road and tar or asphalt? Is the tar and asphalt designed not to leach into the soil? Isn’t tar and asphalt just as bad for the environment? Couldn’t you say that it’s worse because it’s put down thicker? Or is oil worse because it’s less viscous?

 

[CJ19]

I’m not taking sides here but I have a question, what’s the difference between a fine mist of oil on a road and tar or asphalt? Is the tar and asphalt designed not to leach into the soil? Isn’t tar and asphalt just as bad for the environment? Couldn’t you say that it’s worse because it’s put down thicker? Or is oil worse because it’s less viscous?

Viscosity of asphalt plus hardening when it cools keeps it from entering the soil or groundwater in the same fashion crude, diesel, or brine with light hydrocarbons would. To be honest, all kinds of sht gets spilled or put on roads that are technicay bad for the environment and nothing happens. Sometimes the reality is you choose to live life and be able to drive or try to control every molecule of contaminant. State salt stock piles are a prime example. They are always causing problems and no one does sht. Anyway, spreading waste oil is not something i would recommend. Every environmental professional will tell you not to do it bc its not good.

 

[Baddog]

Use to pump a lot of calcium chloride into tractor tires when I was a tire monkey. Could try your local tire shop and see if that’s still a thing. I’ve pumped a lot out on the ground in the middle of the farmers field so they could get their stuff up and going in a hurry and none of them ever acted like they cared, so I assumed it wasn’t bad for the ground. But it will shrink leather!

 

[Muddler]

At work we frequently sell calcium chloride solution into the mining industry for the exact application. It's normally 30% w/w with a bit of surfactant to help wet out the road so it doesn't bead up. Some people spray it on straight, other cut it with water at various concentrations depending on how cost sensitive they are. We also have some folks that spread solid calcium chloride but I don't really know how they apply or how heavy they lay it.

How effective it is and how long it lasts depends on the strength applied, how heavy it's sprayed, traffic volume and how much it rains.

One thing to keep in mind is calcium chloride can kill nearby vegetation and aquatic life if you have a stream or pond nearby. We have an asphalt emulsion that we use in places where this is more of a concern.

 

[Pony Soldier]

There are many dust control agents available. Each has very specific requirements. Soil type, distance to a live stream, etc are just some of the issues. I had a bunch of students build a comparison table of what was available but they never had the money to publish.

Do your own research on what is available and the costs.

 

[JoeDirt]

Rock your road with asphalt grinding, next road project you see hit up the dump truck drivers. Around here they're always looking to get rid of old grind. On hot days it packs down pretty nice!

 

[LungButter]

I'm pretty sure used motor oil is in a whole different category than tree sap. But tell yourself whatever you need to, you're not fooling anyone.

Ummmm, is Magnesium Chloride tree sap? You ever seen what that stuff does to the metal on your vehicle? It literally eats holes in it, and you somehow think that is "good" for the environment?

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Thanks for the thoughts guys, and I will check with the county engineer on any opportunities to save some money.

 

[Jimbee]

Ummmm, is Magnesium Chloride tree sap? You ever seen what that stuff does to the metal on your vehicle? It literally eats holes in it, and you somehow think that is "good" for the environment?

I never said anything about Magnesium Chloride being good for the environment. I know some of the gravel road dust control around my parts is a byproduct of wood production, which I have heard referred to as tree sap. Admittedly, I don't know a lot about dust control products, but I know dumping your waste oil on a gravel road is shitty.

 

[LungButter]

I never said anything about Magnesium Chloride being good for the environment. I know some of the gravel road dust control around my parts is a byproduct of wood production, which I have heard referred to as tree sap. Admittedly, I don't know a lot about dust control products, but I know dumping your waste oil on a gravel road is shitty.

Round here they don't use tree sap. They use Magnesium Chloride and other chemicals. So, while your tree sap solution seems pretty good, that ain't reality for everyone else.