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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Operation anthracite refuse. Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5172283

This investigation involved a complete literature survey to determine the work that had been done on the utilization of anthracite refuse; laboratory and small- or bench-scale testing of possible uses; and field- or large-scale testing of those utilization methods which were promising as a result of laboratory tests. Three completely new uses of anthracite refuse were developed, three more look very promising for use in the future, and work was conducted to help promote three methods now using the refuse. All three new uses were developed with incinerated refuse. This is the refuse which had caught fire, creating a severe air pollution problem, and was then extinguished by the Commonwealth using the $500 million bond issue money. It was found that, if this material were crushed and properly sized, it could be used in place of cinders for anti-skid material on snow-covered and icy roads, in roadway blacktop surfacing and as a soilless medium for the growth of plants and flowers. The work also encouraged the current uses of raw refuse: stowing of the material underground to prevent surface subsidence; reprocessing to recover a low-grade fuel; and the substitution of incinerated refuse for cinders in the manufacture of cinder blocks.

Research Organization:
Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park (USA). Coal Research Section
OSTI ID:
5172283
Report Number(s):
SR-94
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English