×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Calcium Chloride - Dust Suppression

Calcium Chloride - Dust Suppression

Calcium Chloride - Dust Suppression

(OP)
I have used calcium chloride for years as a temporary dust suppressant and stabilizer.  The Federal government has deemed salt as toxic (to certain species of fauna and fish) and this includes calcium chloride.  My question pertains to the chemical reactions that take place in the soils when the calcium is entrained in the road gravels (road surface).  Does the product degrade or react with the soils to become "less toxic" over a period of time.  I realize that continued moisture reduces the effectiveness as a dust suppressant, but is the material changed chemically or simply lost (to runoff) into the ditches?  I have to make a presentation on the subject, and I know that will be a question some astute councillor will ask.  Any ideas?

KRS Services
www.krs-services.com

RE: Calcium Chloride - Dust Suppression

KR:  Probably a little late here.  Calcium Chloride (CaCl2) readily dissolves into the respective ions (Ca++ and Cl-)when it comes into contact with water.  Salt toxicity is a matter of concentration.  Obviously low levels of Ca++ and/or Cl- are nothing to worry about; the toxicity arises when it reaches tributaries as a "slug" or stream high enough in concentration to upset the osmotic equilibrium (salt balance) of fresh water invertebrates, fish, etc...

Dilution of CaCl2 surely lowers its overall toxicity.  Again, its a matter of concentration levels.  Ca++ and Cl- are, for the most part unreative; they may "adsorb" to soils (e.g., Ca++ to clay particles); but it does not enter into chemical reaction per se.  

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources