LECTURE 8

THE CONTENTS OF THIS LECTURE ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1.0 MINE AIR SAMPLING

2.0 METHODS OF SAMPLING

2.1 Grab Sampling

2.1.1 New Advancement in Technology of Grab sampling

2.2 Integrated Sampling

3.0 ANALYSIS OF MINE AIR SAMPLES

3.1 Chemical Analysis

3.2 Physical Analysis

REFERENCES

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1.0 MINE AIR SAMPLING

We have already seen the different techniques for detection of different gases. But,
the various techniques for detection and estimation which we have discussed earlier
do not give the concentration of these gases present in the mine air with higher
degree of accuracy. The reasons may be the limitations in the techniques used,
like:
a. A technique applied for detection and estimation of a particular gas, is
affected by the presence of other gases.
b. The estimations made are the approximate at a particular spot.
c. Use of the handheld instruments is not possible in remote areas, etc.

Thus, it becomes necessary to collect air samples and analyze them in the
laboratory.

2.0 METHODS OF SAMPLING

Sampling is the procedure of collecting a representative portion of the mine air.

This can be done by various methods. The samples are collected in containers like
glass, suitable metallic containers, plastic containers, etc. Of all the different
categories of containers available, glass is the most preferred for accuracy. This is
because many of the gases react with metallic container and may give inaccurate
results. Also, the stoppers available for metallic containers do not ensure leak
proof. The only disadvantage with glass containers is that they are fragile in nature.
Collection of mine air samples can be done by the following methods:
o Grab sampling
o Integrated sampling

2.1 GRAB SAMPLING:

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In this case, the time of sampling usually vary from few seconds to two-three
minutes. In this method, samples at predetermined places in mines are usually
collected. The results of analysis are representatives of airborne concentration of
the contaminant at the sampling station. Under this sampling method, various
techniques are employed for collecting samples. They are listed in the Table 1.

Table 1 Various techniques of grab sampling

Name of the Principle/ working Remarks

method
Water The sample collecting container Suitable for routine
displacement is initially filled with water. The sampling of carbon
method water is emptied out at the spot, dioxide.
where sample is to be taken. In
this process, air replaces the Some of the water drops
water in the bottle. When all the remain in the bottle.
water is taken out, the bottle is Gases like carbon dioxide,
sealed using cork or stopper. oxides of nitrogen, etc.
may dissolve in it. Hence,
accurate concentration of
these gases cannot be
determined.
Air displacement Initially, the bottle is filled with There remains doubt that
method dry air. At the spot of sample whether original dry air
collection, the dry air is was completely replaced
replaced/displaced by mine air or not.
by pumping mine air in the
sample container using pump or
bellows. The air pumped is about
10 times the capacity of the
bottle/container.
Evacuation The sample container is a glass The bottle may be
bulb to which another glass tube checked for vacuum with
is attached. The other end of the a vacuum gauge just
glass tube has a jet drawn out. before collecting the
The container is evacuated using sample.
a pump. After evacuation, the jet
of the glass tube is sealed. This
is done on the surface. The
apparatus is then taken to the
sample spot. At the spot, the
sample air rushes in the tube by
breaking the tip of the seal.

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 Once glass bulb is filled, the tube
is made air tight using suitable
waxed stopper or rubber cap.
Compression The sample container is made of
steel. In this, a double-acting
pump is used to compress the air
being sampled in the container.
- Compressing the
sampled air, increase the
mass of air that has been
sampled (i.e. the sampled
air has more volume than
the container at the STP).

- It can be used to take

integrated sample also
discussed latter.

2.1.1 New advancement in technology of grab sampling

Actually, it refers to detection and monitoring rather than sampling. In this method,
the miners wear some devices that can indicate the presence of gases beyond a
certain limit e.g., Badges that change color in the presence of selected gas or
radiation. Some of them also produce alarm signals when gases have
concentrations beyond a certain limit.

2.2 Integrated Sampling

In this method we take time-weighted average concentrations. In this method, a

known volume of sample is collected using techniques like adsorption, absorption or
condensation etc. A number of samples need to be collected in this method. Also
method of traversing is employed for sampling in places where variation in
concentration is expected. The period of taking sample may vary from an hour to 8-
hours.

Let us discuss about the mechanically driven sequential air sampler as shown in Fig.
1, developed by US Bureau of Mines which is the equipment for carrying out
integrated sampling.

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Fig. 1 Mechanically driven air sampler (after Vutukuri and Lama, 1986)

a. Construction

Fig. 1 suggests that, it consists of flexible tubing wound around a cylinder. The
cylinder is tilted such that one end of the tube is immersed in water and the other
end of cylinder being in contact with a spring-wound clock motor.

b. Working

The motor rotates at a pre-determined interval of time. This causes the end of the
tube immersed in water to come out and then at the completion of rotation, the
apparatus assumes the previous position as shown in Fig. 1. In the meantime, air
gets trapped in the tube. Hence for each revolution, air sample can be taken. While
taking the apparatus outside the mine, the mouth of the tube is clamped. The
sample is taken out in the laboratory from the tube using syringe.

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c. Precautions

Sample once collected should be analyzed as soon as possible to avoid diffusion of

some of the gases that might take place from the plastic tube.

3.0 ANALYSIS OF MINE AIR SAMPLES

The sample of mine air collected is analyzed mainly for oxygen, carbon dioxide,
nitrogen, carbon monoxide and methane. This analysis can be done mainly by two
ways:

a. Chemical analysis
b. Physical analysis.

Chemical analysis produces more accurate results, but it is time consuming

compared to physical method. Due to this reason, physical analysis is more popular
these days even though physical analysis is more costly.

3.1 Chemical Analysis

It can be done by using one of the following apparatus.

A. Orsat apparatus

It is most commonly used apparatus for chemical analysis. It is used if the sample
is more in quantity and rough estimate and routine analysis is required.

B. Haldane apparatus

Apparatus is almost similar to the Orsat apparatus. It is more accurate apparatus

for analyzing mine air compared to the Orsat apparatus. It is used for smaller
samples (lesser quantity). It comes in two sizes;

1. Large laboratory type (capacity of burette, 20 cm3)

2. Portable type (capacity of burette, 10 cm3)

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 C. Bone and Wheeler apparatus

The apparatus differs from the other two in construction as well as in working.

The advantages of this method are:

o Compete analysis can be done only by smaller volume of sample and

reagent.
o Using this method, we can make estimate of H2S, and unsaturated
hydrocarbons also.
o Error in the graduation of burette, does not affect the accuracy.

3.2 Physical Analysis

A. Infrared-Red Gas Analyzers

It works on the principle that a particular gas or liquid absorbs radiation of a

particular wavelength. The method is governed by Beers law, given below:

I = Io eaLc
IO = Intensity of incident light

I = Intensity of transmitted light

a = Absorbency index

L= Optical path or length of the cell

C= Molar concentration

Construction:

It consists of the following major components:

a. A source of infra-red radiation

b. A split and collimator
c. A prism
d. An absorption cell
e. A receiver

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Working:

The source of infra-red radiation produces waves of radiation having wavelength of

the order such that it covers almost all the gases present. Prism disperses the
parallel rays of beam, produced by the split and collimator, into components with
various wavelengths. The absorption cell holds the sample. Rotating the prism can
make a beam of particular wavelength to traverse the absorption cell. The receiver
receives the intensity of the light transmitted by sample in the absorption cell.

B. Gas Chromatography

It is one of the recent developed techniques in the field of gas analysis. The
estimate of the concentration of different gases present in mine air can be obtained
using this method with higher degree of accuracy even for smaller samples.
However, simple gas chromatographer is not so much capable in producing
accurate results for rare constituents of mine air like CO, H2S, SO2, Oxides of
Nitrogen, etc.

It has one or more columns, containing gas adsorbents, through which an inert gas
carrier (e.g. hydrogen or helium) is pumped in. The adsorbent may be granulated
solids or liquids. The sample to be analyzed is introduced into the carrier gas before
the column or coil. Thus, constituent gases in the sample are adsorbed by the
adsorbent in the column. The sample air is being injected continuously. This forces
the adsorbent to release the previously adsorbed gas constituents. The rate of
desorption is not uniform for all the gases and is dependent on concentration. The
detector attached with the chromatographer records the concentration of different
constituents in the air sample.

C. Mass Spectrometry

It is a very accurate method for quantitative estimation of the constituents of

various gases present in the mine air, even if they are present in the smallest
possible concentrations. The principle involves the bombardment of free electrons
of the mine air sample. This causes different gases in the sample to form ions. The
formation of ions is based on the mass/charge ratio. The ions are then made to

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pass through a magnetic field. This causes them to separate in beams according to
mass/charge ratio. The spectrum produced can be scanned and then with suitable
technique, their concentration can be found out.

REFERENCES

Hartman, H. L., Mutmansky, J. M. & Wang, Y. J. (1982); Mine Ventilation and Air
Conditioning; John Wiley & Sons, New York.

McPherson, M. J. (1993); Subsurface Ventilation and Environmental Engineering;

Chapman & Hall, London.

Misra G.B. (1986); Mine Environment and Ventilation; Oxford University Press,
Calcutta, India.

Ramlu, M. A. (1991); Mine fires, Explosions, Rescue, Recovery and Inundations;

Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.

Vutukuri, V. S. & Lama, R. D. (1986); Environmental Engineering in Mines;

Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

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