Field studies on Paraho retorted oil shale lysimeters: leachate, vegetation, moisture, salinity, and runoff, 1977-1980. Final report

Technical Report · Sat Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:5902330

Kilkelly, M K; Harbert, III, H P; Berg, W A

A disposal scheme for Paraho retorted shale utilizing lysimeters to simulate a low-elevation (dry site) and a high-elevation (moist site) was constructed. Objectives of the study were to investigate (1) vegetative stabilization of Paraho retored shale, as affected by leaching and soil cover treatments; and (2) moisture and soluble salt movement through the soil/shale profile. After intensive management and four growing seasons, only a sparse (2% to 3%) cover of perennial vegetation resulted on the Paraho retorted shale. In contrast, good to excellent cover was established and maintained on the soil control and soil-covered retorted shale treatments. Initial leaching and irrigation for plant establishment produced percolate from drains below the compacted shale zone. The percolate from the Paraho retorted shale treatment measured a maximum electrical conductivity (EC) of 35 mmhos/cm and pH of 11.4. The soil control produced percolate with a maximum EC of 8.5 mmhos/cm and a pH of 8.3. Each spring the high-elevation lysimeter received supplemental irrigation to simulate a zone of higher precipitation. Percolate produced from these irrigations exhibited a general overall reduction in both EC (33 to 11.4 mmhos/cm) and pH (11.4 to 8.6) by 1980 on the Paraho retorted shale treatment. The low-elevation lysimeters did not receive additional spring irrigations and no percolate was produced from the unleached treatments.

• Research Organization: Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins (USA). Dept. of Agronomy
• OSTI ID: 5902330
• Report Number(s): PB-81-234742
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040900* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Waste management
510500 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMISTRY
DISSOLUTION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
LEACHING
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MOISTURE
OIL SHALES
REVEGETATION
RUNOFF
SALINITY
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOIL CHEMISTRY
SPENT SHALES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT