Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
8-31-1986
Degree Name
Master of Science in Environmental Engineering - (M.S.)
Department
Civil and Environmental Engineering
First Advisor
Paul N. Cheremisinoff
Second Advisor
Su Ling Cheng
Third Advisor
John W. Liskowitz
Abstract
As part of a program to develop new and more cost-effective dewatering approaches for industrial hazardous wastes, sludges and synthetic "model" materials were analyzed by thermal methods in an attempt to comprehend their water-binding qualities and differentiate free and bound water. These thermal methods included Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TG), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Industrial sludges and laboratory models were compared using both standard heating techniques and subambient cooling (to -60°C). This latter technique provides direct indication of the amount of free water. This information can be very useful in evaluating and improving dewatering techniques for industrial hazardous sludges since waters of different binding strengths are removed with varying degrees of ease.
Based on the limited number of samples investigated, it appears that at least with certain sludges, the differentiation of free and bound water can be made by these techniques. The sludges examined have a ratio of bound water to total water, (i.e., the fraction of total water that is considered bound) ranging from 10 to 100%, averaging 50%. These results suggest that investigation of bound versus free water in any industrial sludge could be a worthwhile part of any sludge dewatering program.
Recommended Citation
Josephson, Ron, "Investigation of water-binding properties of industrial sludges using thermal analysis as a monitoring tool" (1986). Theses. 3412.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/3412
