Particulate matter suppression composition

Abstract

A composition comprising about 80-98 wt.% tackifier; about 2-14 wt.% modified cellulose; about 0.01-10 wt.% non-permanent dye; and 0.01-10 wt.% flocculant, all values being based on the total wt.% of the composition; the composition being a particulate matter suppression powder dispersible in water.

Description

PARTICULATE MATTER SUPPRESSION COMPOSITIONCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Serial No. 63 / 557,873 filed February 26, 2024, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a composition for dust, particulate matter abatement, and methods of making and using the same.BACKGROUND

[0003] Dust or particulate matter is part of natural ecosystems. But many anthropogenic activities have contributed to increased amounts of particulate matter in the atmosphere. Some of the activities such as mining, construction, agriculture, and combustion produce large quantities of various grades of particulate matter. Since particulate matter has been identified as a health hazard and is regulated, there is a need to mitigate its quantities, especially at sites of origin such as mining operations.SUMMARY

[0004] In one embodiment, a composition if disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the composition includes one or more tackifiers, modified cellulose, a non-permanent dye, and a flocculant. The composition may be a particulate matter suppression powder dispersible in water. The one or more tackifiers may include a legume-based tackifier. The one or more tackifiers may include guar gum. The modified cellulose may include hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC).The modified cellulose may have viscosity of about 20000-40000 cps. The modified cellulose may have hydroxypropyl content of about 3-12 wt.%. The non-permanent dye may be plant-based.(0005] In another embodiment, a composition is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the composition may include a plurality of homogenized particles having a size of up to about 2000 pm. The homogenized particles may be water soluble and include legume-based tackifier(s), modified cellulose, and flocculant(s). The composition may include about 20-95 wt. or vol. % of component (A), based on the total weight or volume of the composition. A ratio of the legumebased tackifiers:the modified cellulose may be in a range of about 5:95 to 95:5. A ratio of the legume-based tackifiers:the modified cellulose may be in a range of about 20:80 to 80:20. The composition may also include a non-permanent dye.[0006| In one or more embodiment, a composition is disclosed. The composition may include about 80-98 wt.% tackifier; about 2-14 wt.% modified cellulose; about 0.01-10 wt.% non- permanent dye; and about 0.01-10 wt.% flocculant, all values being based on the total weight of the composition. The composition may be a particulate matter suppression powder dispersible in water. The tackifier may include one or more tackifiers and the one or more tackifiers include a legume-based tackifier. The tackifier may include guar gum. The modified cellulose may include hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC). The modified cellulose may have viscosity of about 20,000-40,000 cps. The modified cellulose may have hydroxypropyl content of about 3-12 wt.%. The non-permanent dye may be plant-based. The flocculant may be polyacrylamide. The composition may include about 90-96 wt.% tackifier and 2-8 wt. % modified cellulose, based on the total weight of the composition.

[0007] In another embodiment, a particulate matter suppression composition is disclosed. The composition may include a plurality of homogenized solid particles having a size of up to about 2000 pm. The homogenized particles may be water soluble and include legume-based tackifier(s); modified cellulose; and flocculant(s). The composition may have viscosity of about 400-1500 cP measured by a Brookfield viscosimeter as a fluid having 3 g of the composition per 500 mb of water. The composition may include about 86-96 wt. % of the legume-based tackifier(s), based on the total weight of the composition. A weight ratio of the legume-based tackifiers The modifiedcellulose may be in a weight range of about 6: 1 to 50: 1. The composition may also include nonpermanent dye(s). The legume-based tackifier may include guar gum, locust bean gum, tara gum, or their combination. The modified cellulose may include hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC). The modified cellulose may have viscosity of about 20,000-40,000 cps. The modified cellulose may have hydroxypropyl content of about 3-12 wt.%.

[0008] In another embodiment, a solid composition is disclosed. The composition may include particulate material having biobased components including tackifier(s); modified cellulose; and dye. The particulate material may be at least 95% soluble in water and the components (A) to (B) may be present in a weight ratio of about 6:1 to 50: 1. The material may have pH of about 5.3-6. The composition may be homogenous. The biobased dye may be a non-permanent dye configured as a visual marking agent with hsl coordinates of about 88 to 200 (h), 50 to 77% (s), and 30 to 80% (1). The legume-based tackifier may include guar gum, locust bean gum, tara gum, or their combination. The modified cellulose may include hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC). The particulate material may include between about 5-20 wt.% of particles measuring between about 74 pm and about 105 pm. The composition may be a hydroseeding composition.

[0009] In yet another embodiment, a dust suppression system is disclosed. The system may include a powder composition having about 80-98 wt.% of tackifier(s) and about 2-15 wt.% modified cellulose, the composition being soluble and dispersible in water; and a distribution apparatus configured to distribute the composition once dispersed in water. The powder composition may include between about 5-20 wt.% of particles measuring between about 74 pm and about 105 pm. The distribution apparatus may be a hydroseeder. The tackifier may include guar gum, locust bean gum, tara gum, or their combination. The modified cellulose may include hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC).100.1.0] In another embodiment, a method of suppressing particulate matter in the air is disclosed. The method may include preparing a granular composition comprising tackifier(s), (B) modified cellulose; and (C) dye; dispersing the granular composition in water to form an aqueous composition; and applying the aqueous composition onto a site. The method may include adjustingpH of the aqueous composition. The composition may also include (D) flocculant(s). The applying may include applying via a hydroseeder.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS|001 l] FIGURE 1 is a non-limiting example photograph of the powder composition disclosed herein;|0012| FIGURE 2 is a non-limiting example photograph of the powder composition disclosed herein, the powder being distributed into water in a water tank;[0013| FIGURE 3 is a non-limiting example photograph of the composition disclosed herein dispersed in water;

[0014] FIGURES 4 and 5 are non-limiting examples of the composition disclosed herein being applied onto a surface to be treated for dust suppression, the application is via a hydroseeder;

[0015] FIGURE 6 is a non-limiting example photograph of the applied composition onto a field;

[0016] FIGURE 7 is another non-limiting example photograph of the composition disclosed herein applied onto a dust abatement site;

[0017] FIGURE 8 shows a non-limiting example of undesirable clumping;

[0018] FIGURE 9A shows a non-limiting example composition which passed the dispersion test according to one or more embodiments disclosed herein; and|0019| FIGURE 9B shows a non-limiting example composition which failed the dispersion test according to one or more embodiments disclosed herein.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It is to be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and other embodiments may takevarious and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features could be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present embodiments. As those of ordinary skill in the art will understand, various features illustrated and described with reference to any one of the figures may be combined with features illustrated in one or more other figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly illustrated or described. The combinations of features illustrated provide representative embodiments for typical applications. Various combinations and modifications of the features consistent with the teachings of this disclosure, however, could be desired for particular applications or implementations.

[0021] Except in the examples, or where otherwise expressly indicated, all numerical quantities in this description indicating amounts of material or conditions of reaction and / or use are to be understood as modified by the word “about” in describing the broadest scope of the disclosure. Practice within the numerical limits stated is generally preferred. Also, unless expressly stated to the contrary: percent, “parts of,” and ratio values are by weight; the description of a group or class of materials as suitable or preferred for a given purpose in connection with the disclosure implies that mixtures of any two or more of the members of the group or class are equally suitable or preferred; description of constituents in chemical terms refers to the constituents at the time of addition to any combination specified in the description, and does not necessarily preclude chemical interactions among the constituents of a mixture once mixed. Unless stated otherwise, the wt.% is based on the total weight of the substrate and the vol.% is based on the total volume of the substrate.

[0022] The first definition of an acronym or other abbreviation applies to all subsequent uses herein of the same abbreviation and applies mutatis mutandis to normal grammatical variations of the initially defined abbreviation. Unless expressly stated to the contrary, measurement of a property is determined by the same technique as previously or later referenced for the same property.

[0023] It must also be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular form “a,” “an,” and “the” comprise plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. For example, reference to a component in the singular is intended to comprise a plurality of components.

[0024] As used herein, the term “substantially,” “generally,” or “about” means that the amount or value in question may be the specific value designated or some other value in its neighborhood. Generally, the term “about” denoting a certain value is intended to denote a range within + / - 5% of the value. As one example, the phrase “about 100” denotes a range of 100+ / - 5, i.e. the range from 95 to 105. Generally, when the term “about” is used, it can be expected that similar results or effects according to the disclosure can be obtained within a range of + / - 5% of the indicated value. The term “substantially” may modify a value or relative characteristic disclosed or claimed in the present disclosure. In such instances, “substantially” may signify that the value or relative characteristic it modifies is within ± 0%, 0.1%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5% or 10% of the value or relative characteristic.

[0025] It should also be appreciated that integer ranges explicitly include all intervening integers. For example, the integer range 1-10 explicitly includes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. Similarly, the range 1 to 100 includes 1, 2, 3, 4, . . ., 97, 98, 99, 100. Similarly, when any range is called for, intervening numbers that are increments of the difference between the upper limit and the lower limit divided by 10 can be taken as alternative upper or lower limits. For example, if the range is 1.1. to 2.1 the following numbers 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, and 2.0 can be selected as lower or upper limits. Similarly, whenever listing integers are provided herein, it should also be appreciated that the listing of integers explicitly includes ranges of any two integers within the listing.

[0026] In the examples set forth herein, concentrations, temperature, and reaction conditions (e.g., pressure, pH, flow rates, etc.) can be practiced with plus or minus 50 percent of the values indicated rounded to or truncated to two significant figures of the value provided in the examples. In a refinement, concentrations, temperature, and reaction conditions (e.g., pressure, pH, flow rates, etc.) can be practiced with plus or minus 30 percent of the values indicated rounded to ortruncated to two significant figures of the value provided in the examples. In another refinement, concentrations, temperature, and reaction conditions (e.g., pressure, pH, flow rates, etc. can be practiced with plus or minus 10 percent of the values indicated rounded to or truncated to two significant figures of the value provided in the examples.[00271 As used herein, the term “and / or” means that either all or only one of the elements of said group may be present. For example, “A and / or B” means “only A, or only B, or both A and B”. In the case of “only A,” the term also covers the possibility that B is absent, i.e. “only A, but not B”.

[0028] It is also to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments and methods described below, as specific components and / or conditions may, of course, vary. Furthermore, the terminology used herein is used only for the purpose of describing particular embodiments of the present disclosure and is not intended to be limiting in any way.

[0029] The term “comprising” is synonymous with “including,” “having,” “containing,” or “characterized by.” These terms are inclusive and open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps. The term “including” or “includes” may encompass the phrases “comprise,” “consist of,” or “essentially consist of.”

[0030] The phrase “consisting of’ excludes any element, step, or ingredient not specified in the claim. When this phrase appears in a clause of the body of a claim, rather than immediately following the preamble, it limits only the element set forth in that clause; other elements are not excluded from the claim as a whole.

[0031] The phrase “consisting essentially of’ limits the scope of a claim to the specified materials or steps, plus those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed subject matter.

[0032] With respect to the terms “comprising,” “consisting of,” and “consisting essentially of,” where one of these three terms is used herein, the presently disclosed subject matter can include the use of either of the other two terms.

[0033] The term “one or more” means “at least one” and the term “at least one” means “one or more.” The terms “one or more” and “at least one” include “plurality” as a subset.(0034] The description of a group or class of materials as suitable for a given purpose in connection with one or more embodiments implies that mixtures of any two or more of the members of the group or class are suitable. Also, the description of a group or class of materials as suitable for a given purpose in connection with one or more embodiments implies that the group or class of materials can “comprise,” “consist of,” and / or “consist essentially of’ any member or the entirety of that group or class of materials. First definition of an acronym or other abbreviation applies to all subsequent uses herein of the same abbreviation and applies mutatis mutandis to normal grammatical variations of the initially defined abbreviation. Unless expressly stated to the contrary, measurement of a property is determined by the same technique as previously or later referenced for the same property.(0035] Dust, fine particles of solid matter or liquid droplets, is a natural phenomenon and part of Earth’s environment. Dust includes particulate matter of various sizes such as particles of microscale and nanoscale. Dust may be generated by natural processes, for example erosion of rocks, volcanic activity, smoke from forest fires, dry riverbeds, pollen, etc. But various human activities have added quantities of particulate matter to the air including combustion, waste incineration, engines, industrial processes, traffic, mining, construction sites, etc. For example, large quantities of dust at mining and quarries operations originate via drilling, blasting, and crushing together with operation of heavy machinery.(0036] Presence of dust in the air can have negative health implications on people as well as animals. While coarse, larger particles, PMio, typically irritate eyes, nose and throat, finer or smaller particles, PM2.5, may penetrate lungs and enter bloodstream, and migrate into organs including the brain.(0037] Hence, it is desirable to keep the concentrations of particulate matter in the air under prescribed and recommended guidelines. Since particulate matter travels from the site of origin by air, the goal is to stabilize or minimize the particulate matter release at and from the site. Monitoring systems have been developed to provide information and alerts about levels of dustpollution. Additionally, systems aimed at suppressing dust or particulate matter release into the air have been developed. Traditionally, the systems may include sprinklers, mist cannons, or water sprayers designed to distribute water, increase humidity such that water may bind to the airborne particulate matter and increase their mass to be gravitationally drawn to the ground.[0038| Yet because water evaporates relatively fast, and the process has to be frequently repeated, the approach is impractical and expensive. Additionally, water is a valued resource, which is scarce in many regions. Alternative approaches have thus been developed, for example, water absorbing salts such as Na, Mg, or CaCh salts or brines, organic petroleum products such as asphalt, organic solvents, oils, synthetic polymer emulsions, and organic non-petroleum products such as lignin sulfonate and oils.[0039| Yet, many of these additives can be toxic to the environment. Salts and brines are especially problematic to freshwater fish, plants, and trees due to the accumulation in the soil, leaching, and runoff. Non-petroleum compounds such as oils typically break down in rainwater and may cause harm when spilled, including leaching into waterways and depleting the oxygen supply, posing a potential threat to fish. While petroleum products may be more effective for dust control than water-based solutions, many of the petroleum-based compounds include known human carcinogens such as semi-volatile polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The synthetic polymer emulsions such as polyvinyl acetate and vinyl acrylic derivatives can break down under moist and freezing temperature which limits their applicability.

[0040] Thus, there is a need to develop a dust suppression composition which is effective, economical, and non-toxic to humans and the environment.[00411 In one or more embodiments, a composition is disclosed. The composition may be a dust or particulate matter / particles suppression, mitigation, abatement, reduction composition. Particulate matter, dust, or atmospheric particulate matter is any matter containing microscopic solids, liquid droplets, or both having such a size that the matter can be inhaled by living organisms, especially humans. The particulate matter may include particles of various coarseness such as PMio (coarse particles with a diameter of about 10 pm), PM2.5 (fine particles with a diameter of 2.5 pm or less), PM0.1 (ultrafine particles with a diameter of 100 nm or less), or their combination.The particulate matter may include particulate / air mixture or aerosol. The particulate matter may include sand, silt, clay, soil, mine tailings, gravel, coal, metals such as Fe, Pb, Cu, Au, Ag, Pt, Al, An, Li, Ni, Mo, Mn, Ca, Be, Cr, Sn, W, non-metallics such as phosphate, gypsum, talc, feldspar, pumice, gemstones, rare-earth minerals such as Ne, Dy, Y, Eu, Tb, biogenic matter, plant residue, the like, or their combination. The particulate matter / particles may be present on the ground, in the air, or both. The composition is configured to prevent, minimize, or diminish the particulate matter / particles from becoming airborne and / or entering the atmosphere and to maintain the particulate’s presence on the ground.

[0042] The composition may be a particulate matter binding composition. One or more components of the composition may adhere to the particulate matter, form a physical bond with the particles, form a chemical bond with the particles, or a combination thereof.

[0043] The composition may be used to control, manage, and / or minimize particulate matter or dust presence at various sites. The sites may include excavation sites such as surface mining, openpit mining, open-cast mining, open-cut mining, quarries, demolition sites, mine reclamation sites, construction sites, any site with soil disturbance, wind farms, solar farms, roads, roadsides, and sites with excessive vehicle traffic, etc. Additionally, the site may include a farm, plant nursery, berry production facility, or other horticultural facilities in need to suppress dust spread onto plants, berries, fruits.

[0044] The composition may include one or more components (A)-(D) listed herein. The composition, the components, or both may be environmentally friendly, non-corrosive, non-toxic, non-staining, plant-based, sustainably-sourced, biobased, biodegradable, or a combination thereof. Due to the physical and chemical properties of the composition, the composition offers a variety of advantages in comparison to traditional dust mitigation solutions. For example, the composition may reduce environmental impact due to extended longevity, reduced consumption of resources, non-toxicity, compatibility with vegetation and soil, overall greater functionality, the like, or a combination thereof.

[0045] The composition may include component (A), one or more tackifiers. A tackifier is a chemical compound configured to increase chemical bond ability, adhesiveness, tack, or stickinessof a surface. Component (A) may include a mixture of synthetic and natural tackifiers or be essentially natural. The one or more tackifiers may include psyllium, starch, xantham gum, or a combination thereof. The one or more tackifiers may be legume-based. A legume is any plant from the Fabaceae family or the fruit or seed of the plant. The legume-based tackifier may be locust bean or carob-based, guar-based, tara-based, or a combination thereof.

[0046] Locust bean gum or carob bean gum is a galactomannan vegetable gum extracted from the seeds of the carob tree. Locust bean gum includes high-molecular- weight hydrocolloidal polysaccharides, composed of galactose and mannose units combined through glycosidic linkages. Locust bean gum has a relatively high gelling capacity. Guar gum or guaran is a galactomannan polysaccharide extracted from guar beans. Guar gum is non-ionic, thus not affected by ionic strength or pH. Guar gum is not self-gelling and hydro-colloidal. Tara gum is a galactomannan polysaccharide extracted from Caesalinia spinosa tree. The legume-based gums have a different ratio of mannose / galactose ratio, which affects their solubility, specifically 4: 1 for locust bean gum, 3:1 for tara gum, and 2:1 guar gum; the higher the galactose ratio, the better the solubility.

[0047] Component (A) may be modified, for example with one or more dispersants.

[0048] The composition may include component (B), cellulose. Cellulose is a non- petrochemical, non-petroleum-based, plant-based compound. Cellulose is an organic compound with the formula of a polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of several hundred to many thousands of P linked D-glucose units. It is a complex carbohydrate, a polysaccharide including chains of glucose monomers. Cellulose is a structural component of primary cell walls of green plants and vegetable fibers. Cellulose is a natural polymer or biopolymer and the most abundant biomass resource on Earth.

[0049] Cellulose may be plant-based. The source of the cellulose may be any plant such as fruit, vegetable, trees such as cell wall of bark, phloem, leaves, roots, seeds, stalks, straw, skin, husk, or stems. Non-limiting source of cellulose may be cotton, flex, hemp, sisal, jute, kenaf, bamboo, wood such as beach, pine, spruce, maple, straw, alfalfa, seaweed, algae, bacteria, or a combinationthereof. The cellulose may be organic, naturally occurring, or synthetically derived, man-made. Regardless of its origin, cellulose has the same molecular structure.(0050] The cellulose may be plant-based, synthesized, purified, removed from other components present in the cellulose source such as lignin, polysaccharides, pectins, the like, or a combination thereof present in the plant.|0051| The cellulose may be modified to adjust one or more properties. For example, the cellulose may be modified to alter structural integrity, ductility, viscosity, solubility, thickening capacity, salt tolerance, low ash content, pH stability, water-retaining property, dimensional stability, dispersibility, cohesiveness, adhesiveness, plasticity, UV-resi stance, etc., of the cellulose. Cellulose units include primary and secondary hydroxyl groups. Modified cellulose is created by changes being made to the hydroxyl groups in the cellulose backbone. For example, methyl cellulose is formed by replacing hydroxyl groups at the C-2, C-3, and / or C-6 positions of anhydro-d-glucose units with hydrophobic groups of methyl (CH3). In carboxymethyl cellulose, some of the hydroxyl groups are changed to carboxymethyl groups. In hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, a mixed alkyl hydroalkyl cellulose ether, some of the hydroxyl groups are exchanged for methoxy groups and subsequently propylene glycol ether groups are added.

[0052] The cellulose may include methylcellulose (MC), hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxyethylmethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), aminoalkylcellulose, polyanionic cellulose (PAC), or a combination thereof.

[0053] The component (B)’s solubility may be pH-dependent. For example, the component (B) may be soluble at pH of at least about 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 6.0, 6.1, 6.2,6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 8.0. The component (B) may not be soluble at a pH below about 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 6.0, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3,6.4, 6.5, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 8.0.

[0054] The component (B)’s solubility may be viscosity dependent. The component (B) may have viscosity in the range of about 2000-120,000, 4,000-100,000, or 10,000-90,000 mPa / s or cps.The viscosity of the component B may be about, at least about, or at most about 2000, 5000, 10000, 15000, 20000, 25000, 30000, 35000, 40000, 45000, 50000, 55000, 60000, 70000, 80000, 90000, 100000, 110000, or 120000 mPa / s or cps.|0055] The component (B) hydroxypropyl content may be about 3-12, 4-10, or 5-8 wt.%, based on the total weight of the cellulose. The component B methoxy group content may be about 19- 30, 20-28, or 21-26 wt.%, based on the total weight of the cellulose.

[0056] The composition may include component (C), a dye. The dye may be a non-permanent, vanishing dye. The non-permanent dye may be a marker dye or visual marking agent configured to provide a color effect for a predetermined amount of time. The predetermined amount of time may be about several minutes to several hours to several days. The dye may impart a darker or brighter color to the composition to enable visual confirmation of application at the site. The dye may be a photosensitive dye.

[0057] The dye may be non-toxic, non-staining, and include natural and / or synthetic compounds. The non-permanent dye may comprise compounds derived from plants, fungi, lichens, invertebrates, insects, minerals, the like, or a combination thereof. Any part of the plant may be utilized to provide the dye such as roots, petals, leaves, stems, shoots, stalks, hulls, husks, ripe and / or unripe fruit, or seed. Exemplary sources of plant dyestuffs include tree varieties such as pine; vegetables such as carrots, beetroot, red cabbage, artichoke, spinach, celery; fruit such as blueberries, pomegranate, strawberries, avocado, cherries, raspberries, mulberries, elderberries, blackberries, grapes, peach; turmeric, fennel, basil, paprika, saffron, tea plants, coffee plants, barberry, bloodroot, lilac, coneflower, dandelion, goldenrod, hollyhock, ivy, St John’s Wort, yellow dock, rose, lavender, cornflower, hyacinth, Queen Anne’s Lace, hibiscus, daylily, safflower, camellia, snapdragon, nettle, milkweed, peony, Black-eyed Susan, hydrangea, chamomile, alfalfa, crocus, marigold, or the like. Exemplary mineral-based dyestuffs include iron oxide and carbon black. A non-limiting example type of a non-permanent dye may include green pigments.

[0058] The dye may have a color with a dominant wavelength from about 380 nm to about 780 nm, about 400 nm to about 700 nm, or about 420 nm to about 570 nm relative to a white illuminate.The color of the dye may vary, depending on an application. Non-limiting example colors may include blue, green, red, or orange.(0059] The composition with the dye may have a different “h value” than the composition without the dye. The composition with the dye may have HSL coordinates such that the “h value” (hue) is from about 0 to about 360, 60 to 270, or 80 to 180. The “s value” (saturation) is from about 20, 30, or 40 to about 100. The “1 value” (lightness) is from about 30, 40, or 50 to about 60, 70, or 80. A non-limiting example composition may have one or more hsl coordinates of about 88 to 200 (h), about 50 to 77% (s), and about 30 to 80% (1).

[0060] The composition may include component (D), one or more additional components. The one or more additional components may include, but are not limited to, a coagulant, flocculant, surfactant, mineral particles, the like, or their combination.

[0061] A coagulant is a substance configured to thicken the composition. A flocculant is a substance promoting agglomeration of fine particles in a solution. A surfactant is a substance that reduces the surface tension of a liquid in which it is dissolved, improves ability to wet surfaces and form fine droplets.

[0062] The one or more additional components may include an organic salt, water-soluble organic polymer, anionic polyelectrolyte, polyacrylamide, sodium polyacrylate, polyoxyetylene, polyvinyl amine, polyvinyl sulfonate, aluminum sulfate, dialdehyde, ferric chloride, ferric sulfate, sodium chloride, or a combination thereof.

[0063] Mineral particles may include clay, bentonite, zeolite, the like, or their combination.

[0064] The components, composition, or both may be in the form of a powder or a plurality of fine, dry, solid particles. The powder may be homogenous or have a uniform structure throughout. The powder may be non-homogenous. The powder may have a uniform or non-uniform size. The size may be about, at least about, or up to about 2000 pm or 10 mesh. Majority of the particles may have a mesh size of about 100 to 500 mesh or measure between 149 pm and 25 pm. A nonlimiting example composition may include less than about 10 wt.% of particles between mesh size 10 (2000 pm) and mesh size 100 (149 pm) or larger than mesh size 10 (2000 pm), based on thetotal weight of the composition. A non-limiting example composition may include more than about 10 wt.% of particles having mesh size 140 (105 gm), 200 (74 pm), 270 (53 pm), 400 (37 pm), 500 (25 pm), or a combination thereof, based on the total weight of the composition. A non-limiting example composition may include relatively even weight distribution of particles in mesh sizes 100 (149 pm), 140 (105 pm), 200 (74 pm), 270 (53 pm), 325 (44 pm), 400 (37 pm), and 500 (25 pm). Relatively even refers to a 5-10% deviation. A non-limiting example composition may include less than about 10 wt.% of particles having a mesh size below 500 (25 pm) based on the total weight of the composition. A non-limiting example composition may include a first portion of particles measuring between 74 pm and 105 pm, a second portion of particles measuring between 53 pm and 74 pm, a third portion of particles measuring between 44 pm and 53 pm, a fourth portion of particles measuring between 37 pm and 44 pm, a fifth portion of particles measuring between 25 pm and 37 pm, or their combination. Each portion of the particles may encompass about 5-20, 7-17, or 8-15 wt.%, based on the total weight of all of the particles in the composition. A non-limiting example of the powder is shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

[0065] The components may be included in the following amounts. The composition may include about 5-98, 20-80, or 30-60 wt. % of component (A), based on the total weight of the composition. The composition may include about 80-98, 85-96, or 90-95 wt. % of component (A), based on the total weight or volume of the composition. The composition may include about, at least about, or at most about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, or 98 wt. % of component (A), based on the total weight of the composition.

[0066] The composition may include about 2-95, 20-80, or 30-60 wt. % of component (B), based on the total weight of the composition. The composition may include about 2-14, 3-12, or 4-10 wt. % of component (B), based on the total weight of the composition. The composition may include about, at least about, or at most about 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, or 95 wt.% of component (B), based on the total weight of the composition.

[0067] The composition may be free of components (C), (D), or both. The composition may include about 0-10, 0.1-10, 0.2-5, or 0.3-3 wt. % of component (C), based on the total weight of the composition. The composition may include about, at least about, or at most about 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4, 4.25, 4.5, 4.75, 5, 5.25, 5.5, 5.75, 6, 6.25, 6.5, 6.75, 7, 7.25, 7.5, 7.75, 8, 8.25, 8.5, 8.75, 9, 9.25, 9.5, 9.75, or 10 wt. % of component (C), based on the total weight of the composition.

[0068] The composition may include about 0.05-5, 0.08-2.5, or 0.1-1 wt. % of component (D), based on the total weight of the composition. The composition may include about, at least about, or at most about 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.55, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2.0, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3.0, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4.0, 4.25, 4.5, 4.75, or 5.0 wt. % of component (D), based on the total weight of the composition.

[0069] The weight ratio of the components (B):(A) may be in a range of about 1 :99 to 99: 1, 5:95 to 95:5, 1:6 to 1 :50, 20:80 to 80:20, or 40:60 to 60:40. The weight ratio of the components (A):(B) may be in a range of about 1 :99, 1 :6, 1 :50, 5:95, 10:90, 15:85, 20:80, 25:75, 30:70, 35:65, 40:60, 45:55, 50:50, 55:45, 60:40, 65:35, 70:30, 75:25, 80:20, 85: 15, 90: 10, 95:5, or 99: 1. The weight ratio of the component (A): components (B), (C), and (D) may be in a range of about 99:1 to 1 :99. The weight ratio of the component (A): components (B), (C), and (D) may be in a range of about 1 :99, 5:95, 10:90, 15:85, 20:80, 25:75, 30:70, 35:65, 40:60, 45:55, 50:50, 55:45, 60:40, 65:35, 70:30, 75:25, 80:20, 85:15, 90: 10, 95:5, or 99: 1.10070] Besides the components (A)-(D), the composition may be mixed with water, be aqueous, or water-based. The water is added for application purposes, typically at the dust treatment site. The composition is dispersible, soluble, or both in water. The composition may be included in a water-based slurry, form slurry with water, or both.

[0071] The composition may have pH of about 4.5 to 7, 5-6.5, or 5.3-6. The composition may have electroconductivity of at most about 0.11, 0.10, or 0.09 Mmhos / cm. A higher electroconductivity may indicate a greater concentration of salts such as MgCl or CaCl which may be undesirable as high salinity may jeopardize plant vegetation establishment.

[0072] The composition, once solubilized in water at a rate of about 3 g of the composition per 500 mL of water, may have viscosity of about 400- 1500, 500-1200, 650-850, or 670- 820, or 700- 800 cP, measured by a standard Brookfield viscosimeter. A Brookfield viscosimeter measures a force required to rotate an immersed element in a fluid. The mobile device is driven by a motor via a calibrated spring. The torsion of the spring is indicated by the position of a pointer on a circular dial or by a digital display. The viscosity may be about, at least about, or at most about 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, 750, 800, 850, 900, 950, 1000, 1050, 1100, 1150, 1200, 1250, 1300, 1350, 1400, 1450, or 1500 cP. Higher viscosity values could indicate air entrainment and cavitation in the application equipment such as lines, pumps, and nozzles.

[0073] The composition may have good solubility in water as illustrated by the dispersion test. The dispersion test measures an amount of insoluble material within the solubilized mixture. Insoluble material may cause uneven dispersion and formation of unwanted agglomerations, which do not provide dust suppression. Presence of the agglomerations in the mixture of the composition with water is thus undesirable and should be minimized. A non-limiting example agglomeration formed is shown in Fig. 8.

[0074] The dispersion test (Dispersal Standard Operating Procedure) disperses a sample in water under tightly controlled conditions. The resulting solution is screened to check for the presence of lumps. The items needed for the test include a magnetic stirrer, 600 mL beaker, stopwatch, mesh strainer, digital scale, small lab scoop, sous vide warmer, plastic tub, and a digital thermometer. During the test, the plastic tub is filled with 6 L of tap water. The sous vide warmer is placed in the tub and clipped to its side. The water is warmed to 55°F (12.78°). 2.4 g of the dry composition is measured. The 600 mL beaker is filled with 500 mL water from the tub. The beaker is placed on a magnetic stirrer and a stir bar is placed in the beaker. The stirrer is turned on to 40% and subsequently turned off. After 5 seconds, the composition is slowly added into the beaker. After 15 seconds, a stir procedure lasting 90 seconds is started while increasing and decreasing the stirrer between 0, 40, and 60%. The solution is poured through the strainer. Any agglomerates remaining in the strainer indicate solubility failure of the composition. An example of “pass” is shown in Fig. 9A. An example of “fail” is shown in Fig. 9B.

[0075] The composition may have solubility of up to 100, 99, 98, 97, 96, or 95% in water. The composition may be thus entirely soluble with formation of no agglomerations, chunks, lumps, fish eyes, other undesirable conglomerations of particles, or their combination. The composition may be distributed from various apparati such as a hydroseeder or a machine configured to spray a fluid or a slurry onto a surface. The composition may be thus a hydroseeding composition.

[0076] In one or more embodiments, a dust suppression system is disclosed. The system may be structured to capture and subdue airborne particulate matter. The dust suppression system may include the composition disclosed herein and one or more apparati. The one or more apparati may include a liquid distribution device, an atomizer, sprayer, sprinkler, mister configured to distribute the composition. The one or more apparati may include a storage tank configured for preparation of the composition-including liquid to be distributed. The one or more apparati may include a hydroseeder, a water tank, etc. The system may include water in which the composition is dispersed or solubilized at a mixing rate of about 30-70, 35-65, or 45-55 lb of the composition / 1000 gal of water.100771 In one or more embodiments, methods of making and using the composition are disclosed herein. The method may include combining components (A)-(D) in a container. The method may include mixing, agitating, homogenizing the components, forming a granular composition.

[0078] The method may include providing the granular composition at a site. The site may be any site disclosed herein. The method may include dispersing the granular composition with water, with or without mixing. A non-limiting example of the composition dispersed, solubilized in water is shown in Fig. 3. Unlike traditional dust remediation compositions, the composition disclosed herein may be provided directly into water, for example by pouring, without forming undesirable clumps and agglomerates. The method may include adjusting pH. The method may further include applying the aqueous composition onto a site including particulate matter through one or more apparati disclosed herein, for example a hydroseeder, water truck, etc. A non-limiting example of the application from a hydroseeder is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. A non-limiting example of the applied composition on a field is shown in Fig. 6 and on a road in Fig. 7.

[0079] The composition brings many advantages compared to the traditional dust suppression systems. For example, the composition and dust suppression system disclosed herein may be biobased and biodegradable as well as economical. In a non-limiting example, 12 acres of land requiring dust suppression for 50 days, 10 working hours a day, utilizing water truck tank size of 2000 gallons and water cost of 0.00652 USD / gallon have the following comparison between a traditional water distribution from tanks and the herein-disclosed dust suppression composition and system.

[0080] Table 1 - Water, equipment, labor, and cost savings of the herein-disclosed composition and system in comparison to traditional water application for dust suppression on 12 acres of land

[0081] As is illustrated in the example above, application of the herein-disclosed system using the herein-disclosed composition may result in significant cost savings, equipment and labor savings, and water savings. In the specific example, the project cost savings may be $564,516 USD / 50 days, project water savings may be 4,680,000 gallon of water / 50 days, project tank loads eliminated may be 2,340 trucks / 50 days, and equipment and labor time savings may be 2,310 hours / 50 days.

[0082] EXAMPLES[00831 Examples 1-10

[0084] Examples 1-10 were prepared by mixing dry components A-D listed in Table 2 below.

[0085] Table 2 - composition of Examples 1-10|0086| Examples 1-10 were tested for pH, electroconductivity (EC), torque, viscosity, turbidity, and dispersal. Viscosity and torque were measured using standard Brookfield viscosimeter once each of the Examples was mixed with water at a rate of 3 g composition / 500 mb water. The torque represents a force needed to rotate a spindle within a fluid, the measured torque is directly proportional to the fluid’s viscosity. The higher the torque reading on the Brookfield viscosimeter, the higher the viscosity of the fluid being tested. Dispersal relates to solubility in water and is designated as “pass” or “fail” test, as is described above. The compositions of Examples 1-10 passed the test. The measured properties for Examples 1-10 are listed in Table 3 below.

[0087] Table 3 - Properties of Examples 1-10

[0088] Particle distribution of Examples 1-10 was assessed using a ROTAP testing procedure. A suitable ROTAP testing procedure may use a stacking of sieves in the following order from top to bottom: #100, #140, #200, #270, #325, #400, #500, pan. 10 g of a sample was measured out from a primary specimen and placed on the top screen of the sieve stack, and the sieve stack was placed into the ROTAP, and secured within. The ROTAP timer was set for five minutes, and then the process was started by pressing the START / RESUME button. When the ROTAP stopped, the stack of sieves was removed, the material in each sieve was collected andweighed, and the results were documented. Average results for Examples 1-10 were shown in Table 4 below.(0089] Table 4 - Particle distribution of Examples 1-10

[0090] Example 11-25

[0091] Examples 11-25 were prepared by mixing dry ingredients of Table 5 below. Examples 11-25 present various amounts and compounds of components (A)-(D). Examples 11-25 were assessed and passed the dispersal test, indicating good solubility.

[0092] Table 5 - Composition of Examples 11-25(0093] While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments dlOescribe all possible forms of the disclosure. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the disclosure.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A composition comprising: about 80-98 wt.% tackifier; about 2-14 wt.% modified cellulose; about 0.01-10 wt.% non-permanent dye; and about 0.01-10 wt.% flocculant, all values being based on the total weight of the composition; the composition being a particulate matter suppression powder dispersible in water.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the tackifier comprises one or more tackifiers and the one or more tackifiers include a legume-based tackifier.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the tackifier includes guar gum.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the modified cellulose includes hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC).

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the modified cellulose has viscosity of about 20,000- 40,000 cps.

6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the modified cellulose has hydroxypropyl content of about 3-12 wt.%.

7. The composition of claim 1, wherein the non-permanent dye is plant-based.

8. The composition of claim 1, wherein the flocculant is polyacrylamide.

9. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition includes about 90-96 wt.% tackifier and 2-8 wt. % modified cellulose, based on the total weight of the composition.

10. A particulate matter suppression composition comprising: a plurality of homogenized solid particles having a size of up to about 2000 pm, the homogenized particles being water soluble and including: legume-based tackifier(s); modified cellulose; and flocculant(s), the composition having viscosity of about 400-1500 cP measured by a Brookfield viscosimeter as a fluid having 3 g of the composition per 500 mL of water.

11. The composition of claim 10, wherein the composition includes about 86-96 wt. % of the legume-based tackifier(s), based on the total weight of the composition.

12. The composition of claim 10, wherein a weight ratio of the legume-based tackifiers The modified cellulose is in a weight range of about 6: 1 to 50: 1.

13. The composition of claim 10 further comprising non-permanent dye(s).

14. The composition of claim 10, wherein the legume-based tackifier includes guar gum, locust bean gum, tara gum, or their combination.

15. The composition of claim 10, wherein the modified cellulose includes hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC).

16. The composition of claim 10, wherein the modified cellulose has viscosity of about 20,000- 40,000 cps.

17. The composition of claim 10, wherein the modified cellulose has hydroxypropyl content of about 3-12 wt.%.

18. A solid composition comprising: particulate material including biobased components including(A)tackifier(s);(B) modified cellulose; and(C)dye, the particulate material being at least about 95% soluble in water and the components (A) to (B) being present in a weight ratio of about 6: 1 to 50: 1.

19. The solid composition of claim 18, wherein the material has pH of about 5.3-6.

20. The solid composition of claim 18, wherein the composition is homogenous.

21. The solid composition of claim 18, wherein the biobased dye is a non-permanent dye configured as a visual marking agent with hsl coordinates of about 88 to 200 (h), about 50 to 77% (s), and about 30 to 80% (1).

22. The solid composition of claim 18, wherein the legume-based tackifier includes guar gum, locust bean gum, tara gum, or their combination.

23. The solid composition of claim 18, wherein the modified cellulose includes hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC).

24. The solid composition of claim 18, wherein the particulate material includes between about 5-20 wt.% of particles measuring between about 74 pm and about 105 pm.

25. The solid composition of claim 18, wherein the composition is a hydroseeding composition.

26. A dust suppression system comprising: a powder composition having about 80-98 wt.% of tackifier(s) and about 2-15 wt.% modified cellulose, the composition being soluble and dispersible in water; and a distribution apparatus configured to distribute the composition once dispersed in water.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the powder composition includes between about 5-20 wt.% of particles measuring between about 74 pm and about 105 pm.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the distribution apparatus is a hydroseeder.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the tackifier includes guar gum, locust bean gum, tara gum, or their combination.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the modified cellulose includes hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC).

31. A method of suppressing particulate matter in the air, the method comprising: preparing a granular composition comprising tackifier(s), (B) modified cellulose; and (C) dye; dispersing the granular composition in water to form an aqueous composition; and applying the aqueous composition onto a site.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the method includes adjusting pH of the aqueous composition.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the composition further comprises (D) flocculant(s).

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the applying includes applying via a hydroseeder.

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