Solidification's Advantages and Disadvantages in Waste Management

Apr 25, 2012

READ: You may find solidification is applied worldwide as the last phase waste management choice in the waste management flow chart. However, it is not perfect since this technology is limited in countries not strict with environmental requirements. Therefore, it has not yet won... 

You may find solidification is applied worldwide as the last phase waste management choice in the waste management flow chart. However, it is not perfect since this technology is limited in countries not strict with environmental requirements. Therefore, it has not yet won wide recognition nowadays when environmental problems are relatively sharp.

Solidification ( including sealing, concretion, stabilization ) describes the process to reduce the free water in cuttings and potential pollutant emission with the help of additives. It is called a process because solidifying materials are still underdeveloped. In the past, it is usually applied before burial or paving with solidifying materials. I can also be used in production of recyclable materials like bricks or air bricks. Nevertheless, its best outlook is in the production of road base materials ( mud paved under road ).

Usually, fly ash and mud are used for cutting solidification. Many solids control products in the market claim good quality, but it still remains unproved whether it has any credibility. The problem for solidification is that there is no technological process or quality control process available. Some believe casing flocculant into cuttings is one kind of solidification. However, not many advantages can be found except reduction of free water with it as a kind of dilution.

First of all, all the materials applied for solidification should go through leaching test. And the portion cased into cuttings should weigh the same with that in leaching test. However, it is not easy to realize since casing continuation varies. Second, the goal is that solidified materials should resemble raw materials. If brick is needed, then quality bricks should be produced; if paving materials are needed, then the materials should pass road grade test.

When there is no local solidification and burial standards available, 29B can be referred to since it assumes the materials are solidified and buried. The standard minimized compressive strength required for tested hollow brick is 20P. After the brick is crushed, sampled fragments will be immersed into water to test its oil and salt leashing. It is regulated that oil and chloride sediments quantity be less than 10mg/L and 500mg/L. Other test methods are also available except this. It should be noted that almost all the solidifications will have no economic value when the products meet the standards.

In a word, solidification should be considered carefully for waste treatment.

Key words:

KOSUN: Established in 1992 and headquartered in Xi’an, China, Xi’an KOSUN Machinery Co., Ltd. (KOSUN) is among the first group of manufacturers of oil drilling high-frequence shale shakers, is a specialized centrifuge producer, the pioneer in the field of solids control in China, as well as an expert in drilling waste treatment. Its business scope mainly covers China mainland, Commonwealth of Independent States, North Africa and U.S.A..

Solids control equipment: Its performance and quality play an important role in solids control technology. Drilling solids control system mainly contains such three parts as drilling fluids circulating tank, drilling fluids purification equipment and electric control equipment, among which the drilling fluids purification equipment includes shale shaker, desander, desilter, degasser, centrifuge, centrifugal pump, agitator, mixer, etc. Cuttings recovery and waste fluids treatment equipment can also be coupled for the environmental sensitive areas.