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Author:
Nikulin V, Head of Engineering
Nikulin V, Head of Engineering
Sources
Rice dust is generated primarily in the food industry and at facilities handling grain and bulk products. It belongs to the category of organic industrial pollutants, generated during the production and processing of plant-based raw materials, such as grains, flour, cereals, starch, and others. The main sources of emissions include:
- Rice processing: dehusking, polishing, grading, and sieving at mills, elevators, and grain-processing plants.
- Transportation, packaging, and storage: handling, repackaging, and loading/unloading operations in warehouses and grain elevators.
- Raw material handling and processing at food manufacturing facilities: stages involving crushing, grinding, mixing, and feeding the product into production lines.
- Associated processes in the food industry: packaging of cereals, as well as processing stages at plants producing porridge, breakfast cereals, and semi-finished products.
Rice processing plant
Occupational Hazards
Rice processing dust may cause a range of adverse health effects upon regular exposure. When inhaled, it can cause airway irritation, mucosal inflammation, chronic bronchitis, and may contribute to the development of pneumoconiosis and allergic reactions.
Prolonged exposure to fine airborne matter increases the risk of asthma attacks and may even trigger the onset of asthma in previously healthy individuals. It contains organic particles and allergens capable of causing rhinitis, conjunctivitis, skin rashes, itching, and irritation of the eyes and nasal passages.
If contaminated with chemical residues or pesticides, or when organic residues such as rice straw are burned, grain dust can release carcinogenic compounds that may contribute to the development of cancers of the lungs, liver, and lymphatic system.
Prolonged exposure to fine airborne matter increases the risk of asthma attacks and may even trigger the onset of asthma in previously healthy individuals. It contains organic particles and allergens capable of causing rhinitis, conjunctivitis, skin rashes, itching, and irritation of the eyes and nasal passages.
If contaminated with chemical residues or pesticides, or when organic residues such as rice straw are burned, grain dust can release carcinogenic compounds that may contribute to the development of cancers of the lungs, liver, and lymphatic system.
Blizzard BagHouse BIG
Properties
When selecting an air purification system, the following important properties of rice hull dust must be considered:
The concentration of pollutant in workplace air at industrial sites depends on the technological process and production conditions, but in general it is subject to monitoring and regulation in accordance with occupational hygiene standards. This parameter determines the required performance of the gas cleaning system and the maintenance frequency of devices.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration establishes the following permissible exposure limits (PEL) in workplace air:
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration establishes the following permissible exposure limits (PEL) in workplace air:
- For total dust, the PEL is 15 mg/m³ as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA).
- For respirable dust, the PEL is 5 mg/m³ as an 8-hour TWA.
Emission Management
Dust collection in rice milling — an important process for maintaining cleanliness in production, protecting equipment, and ensuring personnel safety. Key points include:
- At the pre-cleaning stage, aspiration equipment is used to remove lightweight dust, weed particles, husks, and impurities by means of gas streams and filters. This helps prevent equipment contamination and improves raw material quality.
- During dehusking and polishing, a significant amount of particulate matter is generated, which is collected using aspiration setups such as centrifugal fans, cyclones, and baghouses.
- Aspiration systems remove pollutants directly at the point of their generation (dehusking, sieving, packaging), thereby reducing airborne particle concentration and minimizing blast hazards. In dust collection rice milling technical processes, dry aspiration units are applied to capture fine fractions and prevent emissions into the atmosphere.
Baghouse Design
When aspirating rice drier dust, specialized systems with cyclones, baghouses, cartridge filters, and proper airflow control are applied to capture emissions directly at the source and prevent hazardous accumulation.
Efficient aspiration improves product quality, extends equipment service life, and protects workers in rice mills.
Regular maintenance, spark protection, and adjustable air valves ensure stable operation, and reduced pollution.
Efficient aspiration improves product quality, extends equipment service life, and protects workers in rice mills.
Regular maintenance, spark protection, and adjustable air valves ensure stable operation, and reduced pollution.
Aspiration Equipment
Several main types of devices are suitable for dust generated during rice handling aspiration, each with its own features.
Cyclone separators operate based on centrifugal force: air mixed with contaminants enters the cyclone, rotates, and heavy particles settle on the walls, after which they are collected in a hopper. Cyclones are effective at removing coarse and medium-sized particulates, and they are easy to maintain.
Cyclone separators operate based on centrifugal force: air mixed with contaminants enters the cyclone, rotates, and heavy particles settle on the walls, after which they are collected in a hopper. Cyclones are effective at removing coarse and medium-sized particulates, and they are easy to maintain.
Vortex Cyclone Dust Collector
Baghouses are devices with fabric filter elements (bags) through which contaminated air passes. Particulate matter is captured in the fibers, while the cleaned air is discharged outside. They provide high efficiency in removing fine particles (up to 99%) and are widely used for fine air purification. Their main drawback is the need for regular cleaning and more complex maintenance of the equipment. We manufacture baghouses tailored to your production process, equipped with all necessary devices to ensure that air quality meets all required standards.
Cartridge filters work on a similar principle to baghouses but have a more compact design with filtering elements in the form of cassettes or cartridges. This dust collection principle in rice milling is convenient for facilities with limited space and provides a high degree of filtration.
In many production facilities, a combined solution is used — first a cyclone for coarse cleaning, followed by a bag or cartridge filter for fine purification. This combination makes it possible to efficiently and economically capture particulate matter of different sizes and properties, ensuring high air cleanliness and production safety.
View the cheat sheet for engineers
Turnkey Solutions for Rice Dust Air Purification
We’ve prepared a handy cheat sheet and a detailed brochure to help you understand the different types of filters, their features, and areas of application.
Download the materials and explore the best solutions for efficient dust collection!
Download the materials and explore the best solutions for efficient dust collection!
Blast Potential
Rice husk dust can explode under certain conditions. For an explosion to occur, the dust concentration must fall within a specific range — typically the minimum explosive concentration is approximately 300–1000 g/m³. Particle size also plays a critical role: the finest fractions, around 0.06–0.09 mm, are the most susceptible to ignition due to their high specific surface area and easy interaction with oxygen. When the husk moisture content reaches 9–14%, the ignition temperature increases and explosiveness decreases, thereby reducing the risk of rice hull dust explosion.
A blast occurs in the presence of an ignition source, which can be open flames, sparks, hot surfaces, or electrostatic discharges. Elevated ambient temperatures reduce the activation energy required for the reaction, thereby increasing the hazard. A critical factor is the homogeneous suspension of particulate matter in air, which forms a uniform reactive mixture. This mixture possesses a significant explosive potential, capable of generating high pressures and rapidly propagating a shock wave.
Rice dust explosion most often occurs in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces such as silos, elevators, dryers, or transport channels.
A blast occurs in the presence of an ignition source, which can be open flames, sparks, hot surfaces, or electrostatic discharges. Elevated ambient temperatures reduce the activation energy required for the reaction, thereby increasing the hazard. A critical factor is the homogeneous suspension of particulate matter in air, which forms a uniform reactive mixture. This mixture possesses a significant explosive potential, capable of generating high pressures and rapidly propagating a shock wave.
Rice dust explosion most often occurs in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces such as silos, elevators, dryers, or transport channels.
AKMAN Modular cartridge dust collector
Risk Mitigation
To ensure explosion safety in production, the following measures and technical solutions are applied:
- Use of explosion-proof equipment: Machines, fans, filters, and air ducts must comply with protection standards (e.g., ATEX or equivalent national regulations).
- Installation of relief and isolation devices: These mechanisms reduce pressure surges and prevent the propagation of a blast through the aspiration and ventilation system.
- Spark arresters and spark traps: Special traps and filters eliminate sparks and flames that could ignite particulate matter.
- Dust concentration control: Maintain airborne levels below the permissible exposure limit and regularly remove accumulated deposits to prevent explosive atmospheres
- Grounding and antistatic measures: Prevent the accumulation of static electricity on equipment and airborne contaminants, reducing the risk of spark generation.
- Automatic fire suppression and alarm systems: Modern systems enable rapid detection and extinguishing of fires, preventing fire escalation and blast propagation.
- Design and installation with risk zone separation: Create localized zones with enhanced protection and separate equipment to minimize damage in the event of a blast.
- Staff training and regular inspections: Follow technological discipline, monitor equipment condition, and perform preventive measures.
Filter Bag Materials
For bags, it is recommended to use materials with high dust-holding capacity, strength, and resistance to wear and production conditions, such as polyester, polypropylene, or aramid fibers (Kevlar, Nomex). To enhance functionality, bags can be coated or impregnated with special compositions: antistatic, hydrophobic, or sealing agents.
The choice of specific material and treatment depends on technological conditions, temperature, humidity, and filtration requirements. Typically, polyester fabrics with antistatic and hydrophobic treatments are used to improve safety and filtration efficiency.
The choice of specific material and treatment depends on technological conditions, temperature, humidity, and filtration requirements. Typically, polyester fabrics with antistatic and hydrophobic treatments are used to improve safety and filtration efficiency.
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We always perform precise calculations and offer expert assistance in selecting the optimal dust collection or gas cleaning systems, typically completing this process within 1 to 2 days
Head of Engineering,
Vladimir Nikulin
Vladimir Nikulin
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