Trace element and salt movement in retorted oil shale disposal sites
The direction and amount of salt and trace element movement within retorted shale disposal piles is a major environmental concern. This study examines the redistribution of soluble salts and trace elements (As, B, Cd, Cu, F, Fe, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn) in retorted shale test plots with different topsoil treatments 6 yr after construction. Topsoil treatments included no topsoil, no topsoil and leached with 76-cm water, 30-cm topsoil, 60-cm topsoil, 90-cm topsoil, 60-cm topsoil and capillary barrier, and a disturbed soil control (no retorted shale). Soluble salts especially Na salts) and F showed considerable movement both upwards and downwards in the profiles. Molybdenum showed some movement in both directions. The remaining elements showed little or no movement out of the shale layer. Increasing topsoil depths resulted in less salt or trace element movement in either direction. Use of a capillary barrier between the topsoil and retorted shale prevented upward migration of salts and trace elements. After 6 yr the exposed shale treatments (both leached and unleached) continued to have considerably higher salt and trace element contents than any other treatment. Because of limited rooting depths, deeper percolation of moisture is occurring on plots containing retorted shale than on the control plot.
- Research Organization:
- Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76EV04018
- OSTI ID:
- 6960162
- Journal Information:
- J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) Vol. 15:3; ISSN JEVQA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
041000* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Environmental Aspects
510200 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALKALI METALS
ARSENIC
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
BORON
CADMIUM
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COPPER
DATA
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUORINE
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GROUND DISPOSAL
HALOGENS
INFORMATION
IRON
LAND POLLUTION
LAND RECLAMATION
LEACHING
LEAD
MANAGEMENT
MANGANESE
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
METALS
MOLYBDENUM
NICKEL
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
OIL SHALES
POLLUTION
SELENIUM
SEMIMETALS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SODIUM
SOILS
SPENT SHALES
TRACE AMOUNTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
ZINC