Grant: CCI Applied Research and Development Grants

Milligan Bio has developed a novel dust suppression compound for gravel roads based on canola oil that is not suitable for the human food chain. Parkland College research staff will work with Milligan Bio to determine the optimum application method and rate and develop a mechanism to measure the efficacy of the product compared to no treatment, the standard currently used treatment of calcium chloride, and three treatment rates of the compound. Part of the project will be to develop a measurement protocol for road dust as there is no widely accepted measure, this will include the development of sensors to detect road dust as a vehicle passes along the road and a photographic system and image analysis. We will also take samples from the soil in the ditches along the gravel road before and after product application. The research team will also visit sites where the product was applied in earlier years to take measurements. This product is more environmentally friendly than calcium chloride and is sustainable. The product has many applications in addition to gravel roads including gravel runways (calcium chloride is not permitted for this use), mine sites and other outdoor locations where dust is a problem.