Coal-waste artificial-reef program, Phase 4A

Technical Report · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:6700696

Parker, J H; Woodhead, P M.J.; Duedall, I W; Carleton, H R

The Coal Waste Artificial Reef Program (C-WARP) has continued to investigate the environmental effects of disposing of fly ash and scrubber sludge in the ocean in the form of stabilized blocks. An artificial reef was constructed in the Atlantic Ocean with 500 tons of coal waste blocks on 12 September 1980. To detect potential environmental effects due to the presence of the reef and to determine the success of the coal waste blocks as a substrate for colonizing organisms, several biological studies were conducted. Results to date indicate that the blocks were colonized within weeks after placement in the ocean and the fish population was quickly established. The resident fish community was sampled and fish were tagged and released in order to estimate population size and rate of growth. Bioassays for toxicity were also conducted with sensitive life forms. The chemical behavior of the blocks exposed to seawater was monitored by determining the elemental composition and mineralogy of blocks retrieved from the reef site. Their results have not revealed major changes that would indicate premature failure of the blocks exposed to seawater. The structural integrity of the blocks has been maintained after one year in the sea. The strength of the blocks was periodically measured to detect changes in structural integrity and included in situ ultrasonic testing of blocks on the ocean bottom. Laboratory results have produced significant correlation between compressive strength and sound velocity through the block. The results of this non-destructive testing produce a history of strength development for each block showing gradual increases throughout the exposure period. As the program continues and chemical and physical changes stabilize, accurate predictions of the lifetime of the blocks should be possible.

• Research Organization: State Univ. of New York, Stony Brook (USA). Marine Sciences Research Center
• OSTI ID: 6700696
• Report Number(s): EPRI-CS-2574; ON: DE83001249
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010800 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Waste Management
010900* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AEROSOL WASTES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ASHES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FISHES
FLY ASH
FOOD CHAINS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
MANAGEMENT
MARINE DISPOSAL
MATERIALS TESTING
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
REEFS
RESIDUES
SEAS
SLUDGES
SOLIDIFICATION
SOUND WAVES
SURFACE WATERS
TESTING
TOXICITY
ULTRASONIC WAVES
VERTEBRATES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES