The chemical characterization and possible reuses of hazardous wastes generated by the General Electric Silicone Products Division in Waterford, NY

Miscellaneous · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:7284445

Bradley, M J

This research describes procedures used to characterize a listed solid hazardous waste from a silicone manufacturer and the investigation of possible industrial applications for the 25,000 tons of waste which is landfilled each year. This research illustrates procedures which could be used to characterize other solid wastes and approaches to studying possible applications for the waste rather than the typical modes of disposal. Samples taken at various stages in the waste water treatment process were characterized by loss on ignition at varying temperatures, chemical analyses including atomic absorption and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopies. Successful wet chemical methods were developed to analyze all types of wastes collected. The major component, amorphous silica, was present in all samples. Calcium carbonate and copper were also present in significant amounts. The characterization led to the investigation of reuse alternatives for some samples and the dismissal of others. Possible industrial applications investigated were copper recovery by bioleaching, using the material as a raw material for manufacturing glass, or in the cement and concrete industry. This research focused on the latter reuse possibility. Solids that contain over 70% amorphous silica and constituting 85% of the waste stream were tested as a partial replacement for or as an additive to cement in mortar and concrete. Appreciable improvements in compressive strength over the control after 28 days were achieved. Results of EPA leaching procedures showed the solids, mortar and concrete specimens to be well below the established limits for the regulated metals. The materials did not pose a hazard to the environment when used in this application. Several companies have submitted proposals to the silicone manufacturer for use of this material in their processes. The ability to utilize the bulk of the hazardous waste generated appears economically and environmentally feasible.

• Research Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst., Troy, NY (United States)
• OSTI ID: 7284445
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis (Ph.D.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
SILICONES
SOLID WASTES
QUALITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
RECYCLING
CALCIUM CARBONATES
CONCRETES
COPPER
MATERIALS RECOVERY
MORTARS
SILICA
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
BUILDING MATERIALS
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
ELEMENTS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
METALS
MINERALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SILICON COMPOUNDS
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLYMERS
PROCESSING
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SILOXANES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES
320305* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Industrial Waste Management
540250 - Environment
Terrestrial- Site Resource & Use Studies- (1990-)