Best-Chem – Rail Wagon Treatment System at Mountsorrel

As part of Lafarge's on going commitment to reducing the environmental impact from its operations - an automated rail wagon treatment system has been installed at its rail road load out system at Barrow village Leicestershire.

Extensive tests were undertaken in 2006 at Mountsorrel Quarry and on rail wagons with Best-Chem's dust suppressant - DustCryl.  Test showed that DustCryl - an acrylic vinyl emulsion provided optimum penetration and bonding when applied to fine or granular material.  The product dilutes up to 30 parts and provides a water resistant surface.

Test showed that there were no fugitive dust emissions from static stockpiles or from treated trains whilst in transit.

Best-Chem designed, built and installed the spray system.  The system is fully automated - applying a diluted solution on the top of fully loaded wagons as they being filled and being prepared for their journey.

The equipment is housed in a specially adapted new shipping container and comprises

• spray bar for each of the two tracks
• a multistage water pump and a chemical dosing pump
• 3,500 litre bunded chemical storage tank
• Water break tank
• Control systems and track mounted sensors for triggering the spray bars.

Daran Murray - Section Manager-Mountsorrel Quarry, commented "With Lafarge's commitment to help reduce the environmental impact from our operations it was decided to treat the rail wagons the same as the road haulage lorries & sheet the material to eliminate escape.

Having looked into options for sheeting/sealing the material in the rail wagons it was decided to treat the material with a wetting agent that could be used cost effectively; at which point Best-Chem became involved.

Tests were carried out at this point to ensure that DustCryl had no effect on further processing of the aggregate.

Demonstrations were carried out on our stockpiles at the quarry and after, on rail wagons at different levels of concentrate/dosage of water/Dustcryl.

These wagons were followed to their destination (some 60 miles) to attain the sealing quality after transit. At this point the dosage level was agreed. Now all aggregate with dust content is treated prior to departure from the quarry."

Best-Chem Ltd
Barracks Road
Sandy Lane Industrial Estate
Stourport
DY13 9QB
UK

T: 01299 827232
F: 01299 827608