Examinations of batch and column procedures used to produce a leachate from retorted oil shale

Technical Report · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:5753373

McGowan, L J

The primary research objective of this study was to examine test variables inherent to batch and column procedures for their effect on the leachate produced, and to recommend a batch and column procedure for further retorted shale research. Both batch and column tests can give useful leachate data. Batch tests tell us the total material leached which can be related to pile stability, while column tests tell us the rates of release. Both types of information are necessary to make environmental assessments. Specific variables were evaluated through a series of sorption and desorption tests using batch and column procedures. For the sorption experiments an adsorbate solution was prepared of arsenic, selenium, molybdenum and boron and contacted with spent shale in the batch and column procedures. The leachates were then collected and concentration changes were determined. Following the sorption procedure, the shales were leached with distilled-deionized water and the leachates analyzed to determine if the previously adsorbed elements would be leached. For both the column and batch tests, adsorption and desorption were strongly dependent on the shale retorting process and on the solution chemistry of each element. But the degree of adsorption and desorption in the batch test was influenced by the test conditions. Other variables inherent to batch tests should be tested for their effect on leachate quality. These include method of agitation, temperature effects, pH effects and longer contact times. Although the variables tested in the column tests did not significantly affect the leachate quality, other variables in column procedures could. Further research on column procedures is needed. 8 refs., 25 figs., 21 tabs.

• Research Organization: Western Research Inst., Laramie, WY (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: FC21-83FE60177
• OSTI ID: 5753373
• Report Number(s): DOE/FE/60177-1954; ON: DE86002054
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040900* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Waste management
ADSORPTION
ARSENIC
BORON
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
DATA
DESORPTION
DISPERSIONS
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
LEACHATES
LEACHING
METALS
MIXTURES
MOLYBDENUM
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLE SIZE
SELENIUM
SEMIMETALS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SIZE
SOLUTIONS
SORPTION
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
SPENT SHALES
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TIME DEPENDENCE
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WATER