Trace element mineral transformations associated with hydration and recarbonation of retorted oil shale

Journal Article · · Environmental Geology and Water Sciences; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01666573· OSTI ID:6684607

Essington, M E ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Wyoming Research Corp., Laramie (USA)

A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the influence of hydration and recarbonation on the solid-phase distribution of trace elements in retorted oil shale. Trace elements examined in this study were found to reside predominantly in the HNO{sub 3}-extractable and residual fractions. Hydration of retorted oil shale resulted in a shift in the majority of trace elements from residual to extractable forms. Cobalt, nickel, and zinc extractabilities were not significantly influenced by hydration, whereas antimony increased in the residual fraction. Subjecting retorted oil shale to atmospheric (0.033%) and 10% CO{sub 2}(g) levels over a nine-month equilibration period resulted in partial and full recarbonation, respectively. As the influence of recarbonation increased, trace elements reverted to residual forms. Vanadium, chromium, copper zinc, antimony, and molybdenum in the 10% CO{sub 2}(g) recarbonated material were more resistant to sequential extraction than in retorted oil shale, whereas strontium, barium, and manganese were less resistant to sequential extraction. The extractabilities of cobalt, nickel, and lead were not affected by recarbonation. A significant result of this study was that the mineralogical residencies of trace elements in retorted oil shale were altered in response to conditions that may be present in a disposal environment. Thus, the long-term release of trace elements in retorted oil shale disposal environments may not be adequately predicted by applying the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP). 35 refs., 3 tabs.

• DOE Contract Number: FC21-83FE60177
• OSTI ID: 6684607
• Journal Information: Environmental Geology and Water Sciences; (USA), Journal Name: Environmental Geology and Water Sciences; (USA) Vol. 13:1; ISSN 0177-5146; ISSN EGWSE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
041000* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Environmental Aspects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540320 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ANTIMONY
BARIUM
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHROMIUM
COBALT
COPPER
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
EXTRACTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDRATION
LEACHING
LEAD
MANGANESE
MATERIALS
METALS
MOLYBDENUM
NICKEL
OIL SHALES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLVATION
STRONTIUM
TRACE AMOUNTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VANADIUM
ZINC