Characterization of retorted oil shale and application to a model of leachate generation and transport

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · In Situ; (United States)

OSTI ID:6083583

Ramirez, W F; Feerer, J L; Morelli, P J; Peterson, W R

A characterization of the porous media properties of spent oil shale is presented. Mercury porosimetry, BET nitrogen adsorption, scanning electron microscopy, and x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy was performed on unconsolidated powders, consolidated chunks, and compacted powder pellets of oil shale retorted in the TOSCO, Paraho, and Lawrence Livermore experimental retorts. All results indicated that retorted oil shale has a unimodal pore size distribution. Mean pore sizes ranged from 5.0 microns for powders to 1.0 micron for compacted powder pellets to 0.5 microns for consolidated chunks. Surface area porosity, and permeability data are also presented. Dispersion and capacitance of leachate flowing through retorted TOSCO oil shale were measured using a sucrose tracer and a specially designed leaching column. Tracer breakout curves were best simulated using a three-parameter capacitance model which assumes leachate flow characterized by flowing fraction, dead space volume, and mass transfer between main channel flow and dead space volume. Two types of generation models were investigated in a mathematical simulation of the leaching experiment. These were an equilibrium model based on the Langmuir approach and a general power-law model based on surface concentration of a given leachate species. Equilibrium isotherms were generated using shaker experiments. Rate coefficients were approximated by a small differential column which was run at shorter residence times. Leachate concentrations were best simulated by the power-law model.

• Research Organization: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
• OSTI ID: 6083583
• Journal Information: In Situ; (United States), Journal Name: In Situ; (United States) Vol. 9:2; ISSN ISOMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040500* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Properties & Composition
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DISPERSIONS
DISSOLUTION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY
FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LEACHATES
LEACHING
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MICROSCOPY
MICROSTRUCTURE
MIXTURES
PARAHO PROCESS
PERMEABILITY
POROSITY
RADIATIONS
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SIMULATION
SOLUTIONS
SPECTROSCOPY
SPENT SHALES
TOSCO PROCESS
X RADIATION