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Waste Management & Research, Vol. 16, No. 3, 225-232 (1998)
DOI: 10.1177/0734242X9801600304

Assessing the environmental impact of geothermal residues

G.L. Peralta

Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

D.W. Kirk

Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

J.W. Graydon

Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

P.L. Seyfried

Department of Microbiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Scale, sludge and drilling mud from three geothermal fields (Bulalo, Philippines; Cerro Prieto, Mexico; and Dixie Valley, USA) containing As, Cu, Cr, Zn and Pb at levels above the earth's crustal abundance were studied for their environmen tal impact. Several techniques and procedures were used to assess the risk posed by the residues: whole rock analysis, X- ray diffraction, radioactivity counting, protocol leach tests, toxicity testing, accelerated weathering test and a preliminary acid mine dramage potential test. There was no evidence of toxicity or genotoxicity present in any of the samples tested. Leaching tests indicated that all of the wastes could be classi fied as non-hazardous. One sample showed a low-level radio activity but it was still within the occupational dose limit. Three samples tested positive for acidification potential while none of the regulated elements were found in the leachate after three months of weathering test.

Key Words: Geochemical residues • environmental impact assessment • leaching • TCLP • LEP • radioactivity • toxicity testing • weathering


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