German Potash Research Articles

Club cell protein (CC16) in serum as an effect marker for small airway epithelial damage caused by diesel exhaust and blasting fumes in potash mining

ObjectiveThe effect marker club cell protein (CC16) is secreted by the epithelium of the small respiratory tract into its lumen and passes into the blood. Increased amounts of CC16 in serum are observed during acute epithelial lung injury due to air pollutants. CC16 in serum was determined as part of this cross-sectional study in underground potash miners on acute and chronic health effects from exposures to diesel exhaust and blasting fumes.MethodsNitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and diesel particulate matter were measured in 672 workers at a German potash mining site on a person-by-person basis over an early shift or midday shift, together with CC16 serum concentrations before and after the respective shift. CC16 concentrations and CC16 shift-differences were evaluated with respect to personal exposure measurements and other quantitative variables by Spearman rank correlation coefficients. CC16 shift-differences were modeled using multiple linear regression. Above-ground workers as reference group were compared to the exposed underground workers.ResultsSerum concentrations of CC16 were influenced by personal characteristics such as age, smoking status, and renal function. Moreover, they showed a circadian rhythm. While no statistically significant effects of work-related exposure on CC16 concentrations were seen in never smokers, such effects were evident in current smokers.ConclusionThe small airways of current smokers appeared to be vulnerable to the combination of measured work-related exposures and individual exposure to smoking. Therefore, as health protection of smokers exposed to diesel exhaust and blasting fumes, smoking cessation is strongly recommended.

A new mathematical formulation for a potash-mine shift scheduling problem with a simultaneous assignment of machines and workers

In this paper, we introduce a mixed-integer linear program for a shift scheduling problem in a German potash mine. In particular, we consider a short-term (work shift) production scheduling problem, where drill-and-blast mining operations have to be assigned to machines and workers simultaneously. Since we deal with several sequence-dependent setup, changeover, and removal times, TSP-variables are used in the mathematical program to determine the processing-sequence of the operations on each worker and each machine, respectively. In addition, several mining-specific requirements are taken into account to obtain a solution that can be put into practice. Computational experiments are conducted on problem instances of realistic size derived from real-world data. The results show that our new mixed-integer linear formulation outperforms both existing solution procedures for the problem at hand.

Staff and machine shift scheduling in a German potash mine

This paper addresses a short-term production scheduling problem that arises in a German potash underground mine. In particular, we consider a combined staff and machine scheduling problem where mining operations have to be assigned to resources and scheduled simultaneously. The resources are composed of the machines and workers that are available in the upcoming working shift. Due to the given application, several mining-specific requirements have to be taken into account, e.g., how to handle mining operations within the same underground location. In order to solve the problem, we propose a construction procedure that is extended to a multi-start algorithm. In a computational study, we conduct experiments on random as well as real-world instances.

Diesel motor exhaust and lung cancer mortality: reanalysis of a cohort study in potash miners

The aim of the reanalysis is to reassess lung cancer risk associated with occupational exposure to diesel motor exhaust in potash miners, while controlling for potential confounders such as smoking and previous occupational history. Our investigation is based on a cohort study of nearly 6,000 German potash miners, who were followed up from 1970 to 2001. The reanalysis also takes into account the employment periods before potash mining, in particular uranium mining. Different approaches (nested case-control study and Cox model) were used to adjust for confounding. The exposure estimates were recalculated, lagging the exposure by 5years. Exposure groups were defined by tertiles of cumulative respirable elemental carbon (REC) exposure estimates and occupational categories, where exposure was estimated originally by representative measurements of total carbon for different occupations. The highest REC concentration was measured for production workers, about twice as much as for other occupations. The reanalysis revealed that while about 4% of all study subjects had worked earlier in uranium mines, 10.3% of later lung cancer cases did so. Although their absolute number was small, the corresponding relative risk estimator was significantly elevated. Our analysis did not show any notable association between cumulative REC exposure and lung cancer risk. Introducing cumulative REC exposure as a continuous variable into the conditional logistic regression model yielded an odds ratio of OR=1.04 [0.70-1.53]95% adjusted for smoking and previous employment. The study results give no evidence for an association between REC exposure and lung cancer risk. Only for very high cumulative dose, corresponding to at least 20years of exposure in the production area, some weak hints for a possible risk increase could be detected. The study underlines the importance of assessing the entire occupational history in occupational studies, especially if the supposed dose-response-relationship is weak.

Diesel exhaust and lung cancer mortality: reanalysis of a cohort study in potash mining

ObjectivesTo investigate lung cancer risk associated with occupational exposure to diesel motor exhaust in potash miners, while controlling for potential confounders such as smoking and previous uranium mining.MethodsOur investigation is...

Diesel motor emissions and lung cancer mortality—Results of the second follow‐up of a cohort study in potash miners

International health authorities have graded diesel motor emissions (DME) as probably cancerogenic in human beings. There are gaps in epidemiological evidence regarding exact exposure quantification, confounder control and the investigation of highly exposed populations. We investigated the association of DME and lung cancer mortality in a historical cohort study of 5,862 German potash miners who were followed from 1970 to 2001. Cumulative exposure (CE) was measured by representative concentrations of total carbon multiplied with exposure years from the mines' medical records. Exposure and smoking behavior were validated by interviews of 3,087 participants. We computed standardized mortality ratios (SMR, external comparison) and performed Cox regression (internal comparison). The relative risk estimates (RR) with 95%-confidence intervals were adjusted for age and smoking. Vital status and causes of death were confirmed for 98.1% of participants. Sixty-one lung cancer deaths occurred. SMR-analysis showed lower than expected lung cancer mortality (healthy-worker-effect). Internal comparisons revealed risk elevations from moderate to risk doubling depending on the exposure categories used (dichotomized: up to RR 1.43[0.67-3.03] for a CE of 4.90[mg/m(3)]*years as compared with less exposure; quintiles: RR 1.13[0.46-2.75], 2.47[1.02-6.02], 1.50[0.56-4.04] and 2.28[0.87-5.97] for a CE up to 2.04, 2.73, 3.90 and >3.90, respectively, as compared with the reference of <1.29[mg/m(3)]*years). Additional adjustment of length of follow-up leads to further RR increases and indicates healthy-worker-survivor-phenomena. The analyses of a sub-cohort (n = 3,335) with particularly accurate exposure measurement revealed a nonsignificant dose-response-relationship. Our results support an association of DME and lung cancer mortality.

Exposure assessment in German potash mining

Between 1995 and 2003 a longitudinal study on miners in two German potash mines was planned and performed by BAuA in collaboration with K+S and IGF. Aim was to correlate exposure data to the results of medical examination of the miners in the respective mines' workforce and to use the detailed exposure investigation as a tool for risk assessment by the company. In this time period a discussion about health effects and the corresponding necessity to lower the existing threshold limits for the components NO and NO(2) was started as well. Whereas the epidemiological aspects of this study are reported elsewhere (Lotz et al., in Int Arch Occup Environ Health, 2006), we discuss the exposure situation in detail in this paper. In two potash mines in Germany the shift and short time exposure for the components respirable dust, inhalable dust, diesel particulate matter, nitrogen monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon dioxide was investigated in four separate campaigns. The results are reported and discussed. The miners especially in the production areas of the mines are exposed to a highly correlated mixture of the components though the exposure situation can be regarded as state of the art and representative for the industry. All dose-response discussions must take into account that never only one of the components can be made responsible for an eventually occurring respiratory effect. For reasons of availability of proper measurement equipment limitations for a possible lowering of indicative limit values of the EU are to be observed.

Formation and chemical evolution of magnesium chloride brines by evaporite dissolution processes—Implications for evaporite geochemistry

The evolution of magnesium chloride brines with high bromide contents via a multistage reaction and dissolution process has been studied in brine seeps of a German potash mine. The observed chemical trends and phase equilibria can be modeled and interpreted in terms of a NaCl solution (cap rock brine) infiltrating into a potash zone characterized by the metamorphic mineral assemblage kieserite + sylvite + halite + anhydrite. Establishment of a persistent, stable equilibrium assemblage and constant fluid composition in the invariant point IP1 of the six component (Na-K-Mg-Ca-Cl-SO 4-H 2O) system of oceanic salts is prevented by the perpetually renewed input of NaCl-brine and by the intermittent exposure of incompatible kieserite. Instead, the solutions develop towards the metastable invariant point IP1(gy), with the mineral assemblage carnallite + polyhalite + sylvite + halite + gypsum, where gypsum takes the place of anhydrite (stage I). The temporary exposure of kieserite and the ensuing formation of polyhalite effectively buffer the solutions along the metastable polyhalite phase boundary during stages II and III. Eventually, in stage IV, polyhalite becomes depleted and admixture of more NaCl brine leads to low sulfate solution compositions, which are now only constrained by carnallite + sylvite + halite, and the once hexary system degenerates to a quaternary one (Na-K-Mg-Cl-H 2O) in point E. Bromide in brines shows equilibrium partitioning with respect to the wall rock minerals. The pattern of evolving brine compositions may serve as a model for similar brine occurrences, which in some cases may have been misinterpreted as remains of fossil, highly concentrated and chemically modified seawater. Similar magnesium chloride brines of salt lakes (e.g., Dead Sea, Dabusun Lake) show subtle differences and are constrained by fewer mineral equilibria (more degrees of freedom), and their low sulfate contents are due to gypsum precipitation, driven by calcium chloride input from dolomitization reactions. Finally, the observed reaction sequence is generalized, and a model for the formation of magnesium sulfate depleted, chloride-type potash salts and bischofite deposits by leaching of sulfate-type evaporites is proposed.

Numerical modelling of chloride propagation in the quaternary aquifer of the southern Upper Rhine Graben

The deep groundwater in the quaternary gravel sequence of the southern Upper Rhine Graben locally contains high chloride concentrations near the river Rhine between Fessenheim (France) in the South and Breisach (Germany) in the North. This historical pollution is mainly due to past infiltration from the former brine storage basins of the French potash mines on the “Fessenheim Island” and—to a lesser extent—from the leaching of the salt dumps of the German potash mines in Buggingen and Heitersheim. The spreading of the salt plume was investigated by means of a groundwater model. The aim of the model was to understand the brine movement, the present distribution of chloride as defined by recent hydrochemical investigations, and to select locations for new reconnaissance boreholes. The geological structure was reproduced by a three layer model, which was calibrated for steady state flow conditions. The hydraulic conductivity of the first layer was determined by comparing measured and calculated heads in the model area. The vertical resolution was refined to simulate the density-dependent salt transport processes. The transport of the salt plumes was simulated over a 40-year period, starting at the beginning of brine storage in the 1950s. The relevant transport parameters have been estimated in a sensitivity analysis, where the simulated breakthrough curves of chloride concentration have been compared with the measured data. The results of the groundwater model indicate that brines containing approximately 1 million tons of chloride are still present at the bottom of the aquifer. These highly concentrated salt brines mix with fresh water from the upper part of the aquifer. This dispersive process leads to the formation of a plume of chloride-rich water extending downstream, where pumping wells for several local water supplies are located.

05/00534 Preparation of solar grade silicon from optical fibers wastes with thermal plasmas: Ma, W. et al. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 2004, 81, (4), 477–483

The evolution of magnesium chloride brines with high bromide contents via a multistage reaction and dissolution process has been studied in brine seeps of a German potash mine. The observed chemical trends and phase equilibria can be modeled and interpreted in terms of a NaCl solution (cap rock brine) infiltrating into a potash zone characterized by the metamorphic mineral assemblage kieserite + sylvite + halite + anhydrite. Establishment of a persistent, stable equilibrium assemblage and constant fluid composition in the invariant point IP1 of the six component (Na-K-Mg-Ca-Cl-SO4-H2O) system of oceanic salts is prevented by the perpetually renewed input of NaCl-brine and by the intermittent exposure of incompatible kieserite. Instead, the solutions develop towards the metastable invariant point IP1(gy), with the mineral assemblage carnallite + polyhalite + sylvite + halite + gypsum, where gypsum takes the place of anhydrite (stage I). The temporary exposure of kieserite and the ensuing formation of polyhalite effectively buffer the solutions along the metastable polyhalite phase boundary during stages II and III. Eventually, in stage IV, polyhalite becomes depleted and admixture of more NaCl brine leads to low sulfate solution compositions, which are now only constrained by carnallite + sylvite + halite, and the once hexary system degenerates to a quaternary one (Na-K-Mg-Cl-H2O) in point E. Bromide in brines shows equilibrium partitioning with respect to the wall rock minerals. The pattern of evolving brine compositions may serve as a model for similar brine occurrences, which in some cases may have been misinterpreted as remains of fossil, highly concentrated and chemically modified seawater. Similar magnesium chloride brines of salt lakes (e.g., Dead Sea, Dabusun Lake) show subtle differences and are constrained by fewer mineral equilibria (more degrees of freedom), and their low sulfate contents are due to gypsum precipitation, driven by calcium chloride input from dolomitization reactions. Finally, the observed reaction sequence is generalized, and a model for the formation of magnesium sulfate depleted, chloride-type potash salts and bischofite deposits by leaching of sulfate-type evaporites is proposed.

Die elektrostatische Aufbereitung von Kali‐Rohsalzen

AbstractElectrostatic processing of raw potash salt. The paper traces historical development of the electrostatic separation process. The process development by the German potash industry is definitely based on contact charging. Intensity and sign of charge imparted to the individual salt minerals can be precisely influenced by treatment of the salt with chemicals and, at the same time, also with air of a defined relative humidity. The development of efficient free‐fall separators was of importance for the technical realization of the process. These separators contain electrodes about 2 m long which consist either of circulating, specially coated rubber bands or of a row of tubes positioned vertically next to each other which rotate continuously around their own axes. Charging of the salt minerals is very probably effected by electron transition. The paper describes tests carried out in high vacuum on KCl (100) and NaCl(100) surfaces for interpretation of the charging operation.

Use of the experimental-analytical method to determine the three-dimensional stress-strain state of the roof during working of east German potash deposits

Use of the experimental-analytical method to determine the three-dimensional stress-strain state of the roof during working of east German potash deposits

Turnover in the German potash industry

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVArticleNEXTTurnover in the German potash industryCite this: J. Chem. Educ. 1929, 6, 9, 1543Publication Date (Print):September 1, 1929Publication History Received3 August 2009Published online1 September 1929Published inissue 1 September 1929https://doi.org/10.1021/ed006p1543.2RIGHTS & PERMISSIONSArticle Views13Altmetric-Citations-LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InReddit PDF (564 KB) Get e-Alerts Get e-Alerts

(1) Potash (2) Oil Shales

(1) Mr. S. J. Johnstone'S monograph on sources of potash is the most useful summary that has been produced since that written by Messrs. H. S. Gale and W. B. Hicks for the Geological Survey of the United States (“Potash in 1917,” published 1919). It has no index, but ends with an excellent bibliography, arranged in the sequence of references to the papers in the text. The author deals with all commercial sources of potash, including (p. 112) the product styled Karroo ash, a residue from the ignition of the sheep-dung used as fuel in the Karroo region of S. Africa. The attention now given to alunite is well reflected in the summaries on pp. 51 to 60. The methods of treatment are described, and it may be remembered that a research by W. T. Schaller, the mineralogist, led to the suggestion of the simultaneous extraction from alunite of potash and alumina for commercial purposes. The nomenclature in the analyses of products from the Alsatian mines on p. 12 does not agree with that adopted elsewhere in the text, and the use of “kainite,” here and on p. 5, as a synonym for “sylvinite” is an obvious error. “Sylvinite” is, of course, a trade-name for a mixture of sylvine and rock-salt. It is surely time that “muriate of potash,” as a name for a substance containing no potash, disappeared. On p. 5 the potassium-content of various products is given, calculated as potash, and the German and other salts are quoted as yielding 100 per cent. We believe that 12-4 per cent, was the official figure adopted by the German Potash Syndicate in 1921. The account of the occurrences of the ordinary soluble potassium salts seems the least satisfactory part of the present memoir. What, for instance, is meant (p. n) by “the amount of potash averages 30 per cent, of potassium chloride” in the description of an Alsatian deposit? (1) Potash. By Sydney J. Johnstone. New edition revised and enlarged. (Imperial Institute. Monographs on Mineral Resources, with special reference to the British Empire.) Pp. x + 122. (London: John Murray, 1922.) 6s. net. (2) Oil Shales. By Dr. H. B. Cronshaw. {Ibid. ) Pp. x + 80. (London: John Murray, 1921.) 5s. net.

The Potash Position

THE situation of Great Britain as regards a due supply of potash is again attracting attention, and the present moment may be looked upon as opportune for briefly reviewing its leading features. Potash is one of the essential requirements of a country like our own; it is used in many ways, mainly in various branches of chemical industry, in glass manufacture, and in agriculture, its application in the last-named being by far the most important. Thus it has been estimated that in 1913 the world's consumption of potash (calculated as K2O) was about 1,000,000 tons for agricultural purposes, as against 135,000 tons for all other purposes. Before the war this consumption was supplied entirely by Germany, chiefly from the mines situated in Germany proper— namely, Stassfurt, Brunswick, Hanover, etc.— and to a much smaller extent from the mines in Alsace, then subject to Germany. All these mines were in German hands, controlled by the Potash Syndicate, which deliberately limited the Alsatian output to 5 per cent, of the total, in order to protect the very large capital that had been invested in the North German potash mines. In 1913 the consumption of potash fertilisers (in tons of K2O) was as follows:—

The German potash industry

The German potash industry

SODIUM VERSUS POTASSIUM

The European war has taught us many lessons. Among them is the realization that we had become so dependent on Germany for certain things as to take for granted that this dependence was a necessity. Before the war, nearly all the potash used in the United States was obtained from Germany, where there were large natural deposits and, particularly, in such a form as to make them readily usable. As a result, Germany easily developed a potassium industry far ahead of that of any other nation. When the embargo was declared on Germany, the price of potassium salts in this country began to soar. This rise in price was one of the early manifestations of our previous dependence on that country for some of our important chemicals. During these years of supremacy of German potash, large natural potassium compounds were available in the United States, but not in such a

Gases containing helium from the german potash deposits: E. Erdmann. Ber., 1910, xliii

Gases containing helium from the german potash deposits: E. Erdmann. Ber., 1910, xliii

THE GERMAN POTASH INDUSTRY.*

School Science and MathematicsVolume 3, Issue 5 p. 276-280 THE GERMAN POTASH INDUSTRY.* First published: November 1903 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1949-8594.1903.tb00723.x * Abstract of an address toy Prof. Chas. R. Sanger. of Harvard University, made before the New England Association of Chemistry Teachers. AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Volume3, Issue5November 1903Pages 276-280 RelatedInformation