Physical and Thermal Properties and Leaching Characteristics of a Beneficiated Eastern Oil Shale Hydroretorted in the PFH Process
Author | : |
Publisher | : |
Total Pages | : 11 |
Release | : 1992 |
ISBN-10 | : OCLC:68561211 |
ISBN-13 | : |
Rating | : 4/5 (11 Downloads) |
Book excerpt: The preferred feedstocks for the Institute of Gas Technology's (IGT) Pressurized Fluidized-Bed Hydroretorting (PFH) process are beneficiated Eastern US oil shales. After hydroretorting, the beneficiated shale is combusted to generate process and export power. Before hydroretorting and after combustion the shale will be stored in large embankments. The design and characteristics of these embankments depends on the physical, thermal, and leaching properties of the raw and spent shales. IGT and the Illinois Institute of Technology conducted tests to determine the physical and thermal properties and leaching characteristics of samples of beneficiated and thermally processed Alabama shale. The physical and thermal properties determined include permeability, compressibility, compactability, consolidation, shear stress, cohesion, thermal conductivity, and liquid and plastic limits. Tests were conducted on samples of raw, hydroretorted, hydroretorted and combusted (H & C), and the results show that the physical properties of raw and thermally processed beneficiated shale are considerably different. Leachability test results show that none of the thermally processed shale samples exhibited the toxicity characteristic [per the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP)]. Combustion and agglomeration reduced the levels of metals leached from the H & C and H & A shale samples during TCLP tests. Overall, storage of raw and spent beneficiated shales in embankments will not result in significant environmental impacts.