Analysis of corn dust properties and how surface roughness influences adhesion

Authors: PLUMIER, BENJAMIN - Purdue University; ZHAO, YUMENG - Purdue University; Casada, Mark; MAGHIRANG, RONALDO - University Of Illinois; AMBROSE, R.P. KINGSLEY - Purdue University

Submitted to: Transactions of the ASABE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/29/2020
Publication Date: 6/1/2020
Citation: Plumier, B., Zhao, Y., Casada, M.E., Maghirang, R., Ambrose, R. 2020. Analysis of corn dust properties and how surface roughness influences adhesion. Transactions of the ASABE. 63(5):1493-1497. https://doi.org/10.13031/trans.13892.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.13031/trans.13892

Interpretive Summary: High dust concentrations that occur with grain handling operations can cause serious problems, including health and safety risks from dust inhalation, and increased risk of explosions due to dust clouds. We’re studying how dust particles attach to the grain surface and later become dislodged creating dangerous dust clouds. The dust particle shape and structure are factors thought to influence the strength of attachment of the dust to the grain. To better understand these factors, dust samples were analyzed for physical characteristics such as circularity, length to width ratio, surface roughness, attachment strength to corn, and particle size. The freshly harvested corn samples contained more small particles with low circularity than older lower quality samples. The large particles were determined to be starch, while the smaller particles which were more likely soil. Measurements showed that dust particles that were more strongly attached to corn kernels tended to have lower surface roughness measurements than those that were weakly attached for both freshly harvested and older grain samples. These results improve our understanding of dust particle shape and structure and their relationship to the release of grain dust to the atmosphere, which can be used to evaluate and improve grain handling procedures to reduce safety, health, and air pollution problems from grain dust.

Technical Abstract: High dust concentrations associated with grain handling can cause serious problems, including health and safety risks from dust inhalation, and increased risk of explosions due to dust clouds. The amount of dust generated from grain handling is influenced by several factors, including the adhesion strength of the dust to the grain. One factor that could influence the adhesion strength of grain dusts is how those dusts are shaped, and how this relates to the shape of the corn surface. To better understand the shape of corn dust particles separated from corn samples, dust samples were analyzed for morphology and particle size. Dust samples were also separated at different speeds of centrifugation, to compare dusts that were strongly or weakly attached to the grain. These samples were observed with a light profilometer to measure surface roughness characteristics. Results showed that freshly harvested corn samples contained a higher presence of small particles with low circularity than older lower quality samples. The large particles observed were determined to be starch, as opposed to the smaller particles which were more likely soil. Profilometer readings found that dust particles that were more strongly attached to corn kernels tended to have lower surface roughness measurements than those that were weakly attached for the freshly harvested grain. Other grain samples showed a similar trend.