Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
5-31-1991
Degree Name
Master of Science in Environmental Engineering - (M.S.)
Department
Civil and Environmental Engineering
First Advisor
Methi Wecharatana
Second Advisor
Su Ling Cheng
Abstract
Chromium, when present in the soil, can cause serious health hazards. Toxicity depends upon the concentration in the soil. Chromium in soil has become a major problem in some sites and a method must be developed so that it can be treated or disposed of in a safe manner.
In this research experiments are conducted to check whether the chromium contaminated soil can be solidified and landfilled in a safe way. To have a control over the amount of chromium present in the soil, pure soil (free from chromium contamination) was used and chromium was added in different proportion.
Another important aspect is the use of fly ash for solidification. Fly Ash by itself is a solid waste material produced by thermal power plant and its disposal has become a big problem. In this study chromium is solidified in a cementitious matrix in which fly ash has partially replaced cement. Fly Ash has the pozzolanic property which binds the particles together, encapsulating the chromium so that it does not leach out.The experimental results show that as the strength increases, the leaching of chromium decreases. Also as the age increases, leaching of chromium decreases to a considerable extent. The pH of the leachate did not change much and the compressive strength obtained was more than enough for transportation and handling. The leachate was tested and was found to contain chromium concentration far below the standard set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These experimental results are significant for demonstrating the efficacy of this technique for the safe disposal of hazardous waste materials in soil, and for demonstrating a use of fly ash, which is now a solid waste problem itself.
Recommended Citation
Sripathi, Arunkumar, "Solidification/stabilization of chromium contaminated soil using cement and fly ash" (1991). Theses. 2629.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/2629
