What to Put on a Gravel Road to Control Dust

[bigtiller]

paulsharvey​

Lignin Sulfonate:** A byproduct of paper mills, binds dust for 6–12 months. Check local availability from paper mills for bulk discounts.

Lignin Sulfonate, sometimes nicknamed tree sap.

I used it for a few years and really liked it. It worked just as good as any of the salt brines that other companies applied. The best thing about it - it is not a salt based product. I would still be using it but the guy that owned the company that applied it, moved far away and he didn't want to drive that far. There are plenty of gravel roads here in Iowa, his business will be just fine where ever he lands.

 

[jyoutz]

Now, in my experience, something like a paper mill is unlikely to deal with a private citizen, and they very well might want to control their waste stream cradle to grave for liability reasons. I just have trouble seeing a regular guy calling Georgia Pacific and asking about getting a IBC tote or a 500 gal water Buffalo (small tanker trailer), of a digester waste product....

And paper mills are dwindling around the country. There are far fewer now than 20 years ago.

 

[paulsharvey]

Some very quick googling, found it is also used as an admixture in concrete. I also found one source direct from China, at $450-800/ton of dry powder mix. I have to think there is a supplier available that sells 50# bags of dry mix; then rig up an IBC tote with a small pump and 12 ft pvc spray bar, with a recirculation pump for mixing.

 

[paulsharvey]

Apparently it is also used to help animal feed pellets bind? At a rate of 10-25#/ton.

So, it is a long shot, but if feed mills are buying it, they might be willing to vendor the material?

I'm gonna go ahead and say, I'm spit balling here, and don't know.

 

[ultrarunner]

And paper mills are dwindling around the country. There are far fewer now than 20 years ago.

The big one in the SF Bay Area with deep water doc, steam turbine power plant to cover several cities, rail lines, etc. all gone and not because it ever lost money… gone because management wanted out from California and the same for refineries with another giving notice of pending closure… not sure who will make the special required California blend?

 

[jyoutz]

The big one in the SF Bay Area with deep water doc, steam turbine power plant to cover several cities, rail lines, etc. all gone and not because it ever lost money… gone because management wanted out from California and the same for refineries with another giving notice of pending closure… not sure who will make the special required California blend?

The paper industry is retracting nationwide. There is no demand for newsprint and other paper products are also in less demand due to the digital age. Paper mills are shutting down everywhere except for those designed for TP and other specialty paper and cardboard boxes.

 

[ultrarunner]

The paper industry is retracting nationwide. There is no demand for newsprint and other paper products are also in less demand due to the digital age. Paper mills are shutting down everywhere except for those designed for TP and other specialty paper and cardboard boxes.

Gaylord Container Corporation - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

The mill had shifted to cardboard and never had a bad month…

The 65 MW power generation was exemplary.

Gaylord looked at the locations as and decided it did not need to be in California…

Years ago it was Crown Zellerbach… and after Inland Temple.

 

[paulsharvey]

The paper industry is retracting nationwide. There is no demand for newsprint and other paper products are also in less demand due to the digital age. Paper mills are shutting down everywhere except for those designed for TP and other specialty paper and cardboard boxes.

Our local paper mills is spending $83m expanding. It's primary product is toilet paper and paper towels.

 

[paulsharvey]

But, regardless of the paper mill aspect, feed mills, concrete suppliers, or direct import might be an option.

Maybe something like granger, Hughes supply, or maybe an ag fertilizer supplier?

 

[ning]

Sounds like the lignin sulfonate is a bit messy and leaves tar-like deposits on equipment.

I saw also a reference to something called "Envirokleen" which is apparently also called "SynTech EDC®" (link, $723/275g tote)
"Application Rates: Depending on surface conditions and the goals of the application; typical application rates will vary from 0.10—0.50 gallons of concentrated per square yard"

If it's 11,725 sq yds, that's definitely a lot of money ($3k-$15k) for the whole road, but if you can knock that down to a 1000' section of the road, it's $500-$2.5k.

Other sources on the web quote "0.375l/m2 for normal conditions, 0.5 heavy duty, 0.7 extreme" (eg mining); sounds like 0.1 gallon/yard is "normal conditions" which a shared driveway is likely to be; "can be effective for six months or more with just one application. It is UV resistant to prevent deterioration and does not break down when wet"

I have no idea if you can buy it in relatively small quantities, but that link above does sell it in barrel sizes so maybe.