Assessment and control of water contamination associated with shale oil extraction and processing. Progress report, October 1, 1980-September 30, 1982

Technical Report · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983

OSTI ID:5457886

Peterson, E J; Henicksman, A V; Nyitray, A M; O'Rourke, J A; Wagner, P

Los Alamos National Laboratory's research on the assessment and control of water contamination from commercial oil shale operations is concerned with the elucidation of water contamination problems and the subsequent evaluation of alternative control strategies for mitigating oil-shale-related water degradation. Laboratory assessment activities have focused on the interaction of the raw material and the process variables and their influence on the ultimate identity and behavior of the spent shale, the resultant leachates, and the chemistry of other aqueous effluents. To develop a perspective of the health and environmental consequences of oil shale processing, we must understand the identity and behavior of the raw material, the fundamental chemical principles operative during processing, and the interaction of the raw material and the process to yield products, effluents, and wastes. This report summarizes experimental results, including the mineralogy, trace element concentrations in solids and leaching characteristics of raw and spent shales from field- and laboratory-generated materials; the implications for water quality also are discussed. Control technology research activities involve the identification and research of alternative control strategies based on control technology requirements defined by assessment activities. The chemistry elucidated during the assessment activities is used to formulate appropriate strategies to mitigate identified problems. Experimental activities focus on two inexpensive control measures, process control and multistage leaching, to prevent adverse impacts on ground water quality after retort abandonment. Although conservative control strategies may be necessary for some situations, they probably do not need to be used routinely. The current state of process water treatment, reuse options, and codisposal options also are addressed.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 5457886
• Report Number(s): LA-9801-PR; ON: DE84003565
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040900* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Waste management
041000 -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Environmental Aspects
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS
CONTROL
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
LEACHATES
LIQUID WASTES
MATERIALS
MINERALOGY
MIXTURES
OIL SHALE PROCESSING PLANTS
OIL SHALES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
POLLUTION CONTROL
QUANTITY RATIO
SOLUTIONS
SPENT SHALES
TRACE AMOUNTS
WASTE WATER
WASTES
WATER
WATER POLLUTION
WATER POLLUTION ABATEMENT
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL