NOₓ Emission of Equipment and Blasting Agents in Surface Coal Mining

Surface coal mining in the Appalachian region consumes a significant amount of energy in the form of diesel fuel and blasting agents. Emission of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) from these sources represents an environmental challenge to the mining industry. This paper presents the results of research work related to determination of NOx emission of mining equipment and blasting agents, which is part of a broader industrial project conducted by the Appalachian Research Initiative for Environmental Research (ARIES). Data for this project are collected from an operating surface coal mine in West Virginia. The research work presented here may be used by mining professionals to aid in quantifying NOx emission and determine strategies for reducing its overall environmental impact