Plant species for revegetation of a saline flue gas desulfurization sludge pond

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Journal of Environmental Quality

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1996.00472425002500040022x· OSTI ID:381007

Salo, L F; Artiola, J F ^[1]; Goodrich-Mahoney, J W ^[2]

---

1. Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (United States)
2. Electric Power Research Inst., Washington, DC (United States)

Codisposing saline wastewater from electrical generating stations with flue gas desulfurization (FGD) scrubber sludge simplifies waste disposal but produces a saline waste that will later require revegetation. This waste is low in macronutrients, contains high levels of salts and B, and has a fine texture. This study identified plants, based on germination test results, that show promise for sowing at an evaporation pound in eastern Arizona where scrubber sludge and wastewater are codisposed. Forty-four grass, forb, and shrub accessions germinated on filter paper in saline water from the disposal pond. Dilutions of disposal pone water with untreated well water from the site ranged in EC from 0.17 to 3.03 S m{sup {minus}1}. Our criteria for evaluating plants to be used in revegetating saline FGD sludge were: (1) ability to germinate in increasing levels of disposal pond water and (2) ease of establishment from seed. The percentage of pond water that would reduce germination to 50% that of well-water controls (P{sub 50}) ranged as high as >100 for the most tolerant plants. 32 refs., 3 tabs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 381007
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Quality, Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Quality Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 25; ISSN JEVQAA; ISSN 0047-2425
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
DESULFURIZATION
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
GERMINATION
GRAMINEAE
LEGUMINOSAE
PLANT GROWTH
REVEGETATION
SALINITY
SALTS
SLUDGES
TEXTURE
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE WATER