Use of fluidized bed combustion by-products for liners and alkali substitutes. Technical report, December 1, 1994--February 28, 1995

Fluidized Bed Combustion (FBC) of coal eliminates most emissions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides, but produces sizable volumes of a solid residue that EPA may require to be placed in capped and lined landfills. Fluidized Bed Combustors are one of the most promising growth markets for Illinois coal and imposing cap and liner requirements would render the technology economically inviable. Fluidized Bed residues are cement-like and when mixed with soil produce a material as impermeable as the clay liners used at landfills. This project will demonstrate that Fluidized Bed Combustion Residues can be mixed with soils by regular construction equipment and used in place of clays as a liner material. The demonstration cap will cover an area of seven acres, and will prevent water infiltration into acid producing material. Baseline studies of Briar Creek indicate that the water is now highly degraded by acid drainage. Construction delays have enhanced the data collected on Briar Creek by allowing monitoring to continue through major seasonal changes without any effects attributable to the FBC ash. The materials needed to place the wells and lysimeters as soon as the weather improves this spring have been purchased and delivered. Also experiments suggest that it may be possible to control dust by foam conditioning the FBC ash at the power station