Batch leaching studies of Rundle oil shale

Journal Article · · Journal of Environmental Quality; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1990.00472425001900030010x· OSTI ID:5432770

Jones, D R ^[1]

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1. CSIRO, North Ryde, New South Wales (Australia)

The leaching of Fe, Mn, Al, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu, As, and Se from samples of raw and retorted Kerosene Creek seam oil shale and Telegraph Creek seam claystone from the Rundle oil shale deposit, Australia, was studied over the pH range 2 to 9.5. Low pH values were used to simulate the effects of possible acidification that might occur by oxidation of pyrite contained in the solids. The variation in leachate composition with pH highlighted the shortcomings of any batch test that seeks to categorize the behavior of a waste material solely on the basis of extraction at a single pH value. In this context, the results provided by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) toxicity and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) leach tests were compared. The RCRA test would not have identified As as being a potential problem in leachate from the retorted shale because, at pH 5, this element (in the form of arsenate) is strongly adsorbed to the shale matrix. The natural pH of a slurry of this waste is, however, greater than 9. Under these conditions, As is the trace element present in the highest concentrations in the leachate.

• OSTI ID: 5432770
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Quality; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Quality; (United States) Vol. 19:3; ISSN JEVQA; ISSN 0047-2425
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
041000* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Environmental Aspects
ACIDIFICATION
ALUMINIUM
ARSENIC
AUSTRALASIA
AUSTRALIA
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CADMIUM
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COPPER
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DISPERSIONS
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
IRON
LEACHATES
LEACHING
LEAD
MANGANESE
MATERIALS
METALS
MIXTURES
NICKEL
OIL SHALES
PH VALUE
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SELENIUM
SEMIMETALS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SHALES
SOLUTIONS
SPENT SHALES
TESTING
TOXICITY
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
ZINC