Determining the quartz content of respirable dust by FTIR

Technical Report · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:5342822

Ainsworth, S M; Parobek, P S; Tomb, T F ^[1]

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1. Mine Safety and Health Administration, Pittsburgh, PA (USA). Pittsburgh Health Technology Center

Following the promulgation of the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) instituted a program for establishing the respirable dust standard in a coal mine when the free silica content of the respirable dust in the mine atmosphere is in excess of five percent. The analytical method used to determine the amount of silica in dust samples has been modified in the past to coincide with improvements in technology and instrumentation. With the procurement of a Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer, it has been demonstrated that the silica analysis can be performed more precisely and with a substantial savings in time. 9 refs., 8 figs., 1 tab.

• Research Organization: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Pittsburgh, PA (USA). Pittsburgh Health Technology Center
• Sponsoring Organization: DOL
• OSTI ID: 5342822
• Report Number(s): MSHA/IR-1169; ON: DE90005178
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
016000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Health & Safety
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM SILICATES
CHALCOGENIDES
COAL MINES
DUSTS
KAOLINITE
MINERALS
MINES
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
QUARTZ
SILICATE MINERALS
SILICATES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SPECTROPHOTOMETRY
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES