WWRC 89-17
Solubility and Release of Flourine and Molybdenum from Oil Shale Solid Wastes
Abstract
Surface disposal of oil shale solid wastes may contaminate surface water and ground-water resources
with toxic levels of flourine (F) and molybdenum (Mo). Three different oil shale solid wastes produced
from processing raw oil shale, at different temperatures, were subjected to equilibrium solubility studies
to examine the solid phases responsible for the release of F and Mo from oil shale solid wastes into
the infiltrating water. The results suggested that increased retorting temperatures increased pH from
10.75 to 12.35, decreased dissolved F concentrations from 48.8 to 3.5 mgl-1, and
increased dissolved Mo concentrations from 1.9 to 3.9 mgl-1 in oil shale solid waste
equilibrium waters. Chemical speciation of total soluble F and Mo concentrations in oil shale solid
waste equilibrium waters indicated that F was present mainly as F-, NaF0,
and CaF+. Molybdenum was present as MoO42- and
HMoO4-. Further results of this study suggested that dissolved F and
Mo concentrations in oil shale solid waste equilibrium waters appear to be controlled by CaF2
(flourite) and CaMoO4 (powellite), respectively.
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