Method of preventing emanation of dust from a coal pile or railcar

1. A method for treating a mass of coal to suppress emanation of coal dust therefrom, the mass of coal having, prior to treatment, an exposed surface from which dust may emanate, the method comprising applying to the exposed surface an aqueous fluid comprising gelatinized starch to form a layer of the fluid over the surface and drying the layer of the fluid to form a crust over the surface wherein the fluid is applied at a temperature below 50° C.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fluid further comprises a biocide.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the layer is generally from about 0.5 cm to about 5 cm thick.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the crust is generally from about 0.5 cm to about 2 cm thick.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

penetrating the mass with the fluid wherein the fluid does not penetrate to more than about 3 cm into the mass.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fluid is applied at a rate of about 3 gallons to about 15 gallons of fluid per 110 tons of coal.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fluid is applied at a rate of about 0.10 to about 0.50 gallons per square yard of surface.

8. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fluid is a foam.

9. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the gelatinized starch is produced from a corn starch.

10. A method for treating a mass of coal to suppress emanation of coal dust therefrom, the mass of coal having, prior to treatment, an exposed surface from which dust may emanate, the method comprising applying to the exposed surface an aqueous fluid comprising gelatinized starch to form a layer of the fluid over the surface and drying the layer of the fluid to form a crust over the surface wherein gelatinized starch is a gelatinized hydroxyethoxylated starch.

11. A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the fluid is a foam.

12. A method for treating a mass of coal to suppress emanation of coal dust therefrom, the mass of coal having, prior to treatment, an exposed surface from which dust may emanate, the method comprising applying to the exposed surface an aqueous fluid comprising gelatinized starch to form a layer of the fluid over the surface and drying the layer of the fluid to form a crust over the surface wherein the fluid comprises about 2% by weight to about 10% by weight starch based on the total weight of the fluid, wherein the fluid comprises at least about 90% by weight water based on the total weight of the fluid, wherein the fluid is applied at a rate of about 10 gallons to about 15 gallons of fluid per 110 tons of coal, and wherein gelatinized starch is a gelatinized hydroxyethoxylated starch.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the fluid comprises about 5% by weight starch based on the total weight of the fluid.

14. A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein the fluid comprises about 90% by weight to about 95% by weight water based on the total weight of the fluid.

15. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the fluid is applied at a rate of about 2.5 pounds to about 13 pounds of gelatinized starch per 110 tons of coal.

16. A method for treating a mass of coal to suppress emanation of coal dust therefrom, the mass of coal having, prior to treatment, an exposed surface from which dust may emanate, the method comprising applying to the exposed surface an aqueous fluid comprising gelatinized starch to form a layer of the fluid over the surface and drying the layer of the fluid to form a crust over the surface wherein the fluid contains a polysorbate-20 as a plasticizer.

17. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the fluid further comprises at least one additional ingredient selected from the group consisting of humectants, cross-linking agents, mono-saccharides, oligo-saccharides, and surfactants.

18. A method as set forth in claim 17 wherein the fluid contains urea as a humectant.

19. A method as set forth in claim 17 wherein the fluid further comprises glycerin, wherein the glycerin acts as a plasticizer and humectant.