Coolside waste management research. Quarterly report, January 1, 1996--March 30, 1996

Activities during the quarter centered around preparations to complete the study. Geotechnical work focused on coring and other tests on the field lysimeters. Work on materials characterization focused on the characteristics of pellets made from dry FGD materials. The data obtained during this reporting period support the conjecture that detrimental swell associated with continued pellet aging upon exposure to humidified air or upon exposure to water is principally a function of calcium sulfate hydration reactions. The main difference between the earlier studied FBC pellets and the spray dryer pellets produced by CONSOL, and used in this investigation, can be summarized as follows: Spray Dryer material has minimal amounts of anhydride crystals present while anhydride is a major component in the FBC ash. The differences in mineral components which undergo hydration reactions can be attributed to more or less detrimental swell and pellet decay upon aging. Ten trips to the field site were made during the quarter for sampling purposes. Sampling was completed on March 29, 1996. The laboratory leaching study was also completed during the quarter on twenty-two columns which were set up for the study