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Elemental release from Kentucky raw and retorted shales by leaching

Conference · · Proceedings, Eastern Oil Shale Symposium; (United States)
OSTI ID:6012214
One of the important problems associated with the utilization of eastern oil shales is the potential environmental impact of leaching raw and spent oil shales by rainfall or snow melt. The leaching behavior of up to 38 elements released from both raw and spent shale by contact with water and pH buffered solutions was studied. The raw shales, spent shales and leachates are analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The samples analyzed to date include representatives of the Sunbury and Cleveland oil shales from Kentucky. Special attention has been directed to elements known to be toxic or involved in important physiological processes. Preliminary results confirm the expectation that trace elements exhibit markedly different release patterns from raw and spent shales. The elements Br, Cd, Co, Mg, Ni, and Zn are removed from both raw and spent shale to the extent of 1-40% by leaching. The transference of trace elements to leachate is also found to be pH dependent. Effects of variables such as retorting temperature and ramping rate on the leaching properties of the spent shale are also presented.
Research Organization:
Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington
OSTI ID:
6012214
Report Number(s):
CONF-8411130-
Conference Information:
Journal Name: Proceedings, Eastern Oil Shale Symposium; (United States) Journal Volume: IMMR84/124
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English