|
The Fluid Tech, Inc. (FTI) products are
solidification/stabilization agents, developed for the efficient and
economical disposal of radioactive, hazardous chemical, and mixed
wastes. They are slightly alkaline, non-flammable, non-reactive and
non-corrosive, and are not biodegradable. These reagents immobilize
wastes (liquid, sludge, or solid) through the action of complex
bonding mechanisms and ion exchange reactions. The end result is an
homogenous waste solid with excellent leach resistance.
They are:
Please select a
product:
They have significant advantages over other S/S technologies:
A - Volumetric Efficiency.
Typical volume expansions
with FTI products run between 5% and 20%. Corresponding
expansions with cement and/or pozzolanic treatments run between
50% and 125%. This has the effect of greatly affecting the most
expensive cost element in the whole process - namely, final
disposal. For example, between 45 and 48 gallons of waste can
be solidified by FTI products, with room to spare, in a
55-gallon drum.
B - Leaching Resistance.
The ability of a treated
waste to withstand groundwater attack (assumed to be acid) is
measured for radioactive wastes by Test ANS/ANSI 16.1; for
chemically hazardous wastes by the EPA TCLP (40 CFR Part 261,
Appendix II); and, for mixed wastes, by both.
C - Retention of VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds).
Cementitious and/or pozzolanic treatment reactions are strongly
exothermic. Temperature rises of 24ºC
have been observed during treatment mixing. Under these
conditions VOC's (if present) tend to be "cooked-out" into the
atmosphere. If not confined, collected, and treated, they can
be a source of regulatory embarrassment. FTI products, on the other hand, produce temperature rises
on the order of 2ºC to
4ºC, thus substantially reducing
this "cook-out" phenomenon.
PRODUCTS
Aquaset is a water-activated, granular solidification agent
used for treatment of aqueous liquids containing small amounts
of dissolved and suspended solids, detergents, chelating
agents, resins, and up to 5% oils. Aquaset does not require
stirring, and is utilized by simple addition to the aqueous
liquid waste. Usually only 100 to 150 pounds of Aquaset are
required to solidify 45 to 48 gallons of liquid waste in a
55-gallon drum.
It is a granular material with a particle size
range from ‑4 to +10 US MESH. It will solidify aqueous solutions with
low to moderate levels of dissolved solids, and less than 5% oils or
other organic compounds. It is used without power mixing, simply by
adding it to the waste in a container (such as a 55‑gallon drum). Since
it is used without mixing, its use in a container which has solid sludge
or undissolved solids in the bottom is not recommended. It also is used
as a top‑off absorbent in drums or other containers to capture
condensation moisture. The pH of the liquid waste shall be adjusted to
be between 5 and 11 prior to testing and solidifying. The end product
is a soft solid.
Aquaset is also used as an absorbent in containers
of damp or wet waste (suits, mops, rags, soils, sludges, etc.) to
capture and retain moisture which otherwise, thru vibration or
transportation, could become a free liquid.
Aquaset II is an extremely versatile powdered solidifier. A
200‑MESH screen will pass 80% to 85% of the Aquaset by weight. It is
used with aqueous waste solutions that are high in dissolved solids
(salty solutions). It also will solidify many water‑soluble or miscible
organic compounds (such as glycols). Aquaset
II also finds its greatest utility in the solidification of aqueous
solutions extremely high in dissolved solids, such as
neutralized acids and bases, and those organic liquids that are
water soluble or miscible. Examples of organic liquids in this
category would include alcohols, benzenes, glycols, and low
molecular weight ketones. Mixtures of Aquaset II and Petroset
II are ideal when the above liquids are present in combination
with oils and/or greases. Use of Aquaset II requires power
mixing equipment. It is often used in conjunction
with Petroset and Petroset II. It is particularly useful in treating
Mixed Wastes which contain both heavy metals and water‑miscible organic
compounds. The end product is a firm, soft solid. The pH of the liquid
waste shall be adjusted to be between 5 and 11 prior to testing and
solidifying. With EDTA solutions, pH shall be adjusted to fall between
7.5 and 10.0.
Aquaset II is used to treat wastes at any
temperature above that at which any liquid components of the raw waste
are fluid, and below 60°C (140°F).
Aquaset II‑H is used for the same range of wastes
for which Aquaset II is used. Unlike
Aquaset II, Aquaset II‑H sets up to a hard matrix.
Load‑bearing strengths over 5 tons per square foot (69 psi,or 48.8
metric tons per square meter) can be achieved. It sets up more slowly
than Aquaset II.
Aquaset II-G is a
versatile absorbent based on the Aquaset II powdered solidification
reagent. It works well with aqueous solutions extremely high in
dissolved solids, such as neutralized acids and bases, and those organic
liquids that are mixed with water and are water soluble or miscible.
Examples of organic liquids in this category would include alcohols,
benzenes, glycols, and low molecular weight ketones.
Aquaset II-G is the absorbent of choice for liquids
that are too salty, or contain levels of organics too high for regular
Aquaset®. Application levels for Aquaset II-G depend on the type of
liquid being absorbed. Application level for any individual waste
stream should be determined by bench scale testing. The range in which
Aquaset II-G normally works well is between 8 and 12 lb/gallon.
Aquaset II-G may either be added to the liquid
solution, mixed into a wet material, or placed under it so that it is
available to absorb any liquid released.
Aquaset II-GH is
used for the same range of wastes for which Aquaset II®-G is used.
Unlike Aquaset II-G, Aquaset II-GH sets up to form a hard matrix.
Load‑bearing strengths over 5 tons per square foot (69 psi, or 48.8
metric tons per square meter) can be achieved. It sets up slower than
Aquaset II-G.
Aquaset II‑GH is used to treat wastes at any
temperature above that at which any liquid components of the raw waste
are fluid, and below 60°C (140°F).
Petroset is an efficient solidifier for the same
waste liquids as Aquaset and, since it is used with power mixing, it
also is used to treat aqueous sludges and particle suspensions. A
200‑MESH screen will pass 80% to 85% of the Petroset by weight. With
the addition of small amounts of water, it can solidify dry solids. It
is frequently used in combination with other Fluid Tech, Inc. products
such as Aquaset II and Petroset II. The end product is a firm, soft
solid. The pH of the liquid waste shall be adjusted to be between 5 and
11 prior to testing and solidifying.
Petroset‑H is used with the same range of wastes
for which Petroset is used. Unlike Petroset, Petroset‑H sets up to a
hard matrix. Load‑bearing strengths over 5 tons per square foot (69 psi,
or 48.8 metric tons per square meter) can be achieved. It sets up more
slowly than Petroset.
Petroset‑H is used to treat wastes at any
temperature above that at which any liquid components of the raw waste
are fluid, and below 60°C (140°F).
Petroset II is an organophilic solidifier which
will solidify most non-aqueous liquids, such as oils and other
hydrocarbons. Petroset II will not solidify aqueous liquids. The end
product is a firm, soft solid. Treatment of wastes which have both
water-miscible and water immiscible components is accomplished through
the use of a combination of Petroset II
with Petroset, or Petroset II with Aquaset II. Petroset II, used alone, will not solidify nor chemically
stabilize aqueous phases of a waste. With the addition of
Aquaset II or Petroset, as described above, heavy metal
contaminants in the aqueous phase of a two-phase waste will be
chemically stabilized simultaneously with the organic
components. Power mixing is required.
Combination Applications of Petroset II
Petroset II is used in combination with Petroset
and Aquaset II, when the waste to be solidified is a mixture of aqueous
and non-aqueous liquids, or emulsions.
Polar Activators for Petroset II
Polar activators are used to accelerate the setting
of Petroset II. Commonly used activators are low‑molecular weight
alcohols such as Methanol, Propanol, or Isopropyl Alcohol (no activators
are required with Aquaset, Petroset, or Aquaset II).
Temperature Requirements for Petroset II
When Petroset II is used, the temperature of the
waste and the Petroset II shall be 60oF (15ºC) or higher at the time of
mixing. The waste and the Petroset II can be mixed at lower
temperatures, but the waste will not set up properly until it warms up
to approximately 60ºF (15ºC). Once warmed up to 60ºF (15ºC), the
solidification is irreversible.
Low-Temperature Petroset II
A special Petroset II is available, on special
order, which shall be used wherever immediate solidification at
sustained low temperatures is required.
Petroset II-G is
a special product based on the Petroset II powdered reagent. This
product is used to treat oils or liquids that contain organics not
miscible with water. Petroset II-G will not absorb water. It will work
much faster with light organics such as kerosene, diesel, and gasoline
than, for example, 30-wt. oil. However, it will absorb the more viscous
oils over a longer time period, i.e., 30 minutes to 1 hour, as compared
to a few minutes for the light organics.
Petroset II-G can be mixed with a large variety of
host materials that have the capability of releasing free oil, or
organic liquid. Application levels for Petroset II-G are dependent on
the type of organic liquid being absorbed. Application rates for
individual materials should be determined by bench scale testing. The
range in which Petroset II-G normally works well is between 7 and 14
lb/gallon of liquid. In cases where a material has the potential to
release oils or other non-miscible organics mixed-in with water,
Petroset II-G should be used in conjunction with either Aquaset or
Aquaset II-G so that the water component, as well as the oil, can be
absorbed.
Petroset II-G may be added to the liquid, or mixed
with the host material, so it will catch any liquid released from the
waste. It can also be placed in the bottom of a container, under the
material, so that if leakage occurs, the liquid will be absorbed when it
reaches the absorbent on the container bottom.
Curing
With two exceptions (Petroset-H and Aquaset II-H) FTI
solidifiers cure to a stiff putty-like consistency in from one
to twenty-four hours, depending upon the nature of the raw
waste and its matrix.
Petroset-H and Aquaset II-H are chemically equivalent to
their respective namesakes. They differ in that they cure more
slowly (48 to 96 hours), and result in a hard end product.
Again, depending on the makeup of the raw waste, typical 28-day
Penetrometer readings will be well over 3.6 tons per square
foot (50 PSI).
Mixing
With the exception of Aquaset, which is a granular product
designed for use on aqueous wastes with negligible solids, all
of the FTI products are finely-divided powders (200 mesh). Good
dispersion of the solidifier material within the waste matrix
is essential to ensure that there are no "islands" of untreated
waste. Since these materials begin to "catch" or clot the waste
rather quickly, good shear action is desirable to break down
over-treated clots, and to achieve good dispersion. In drums, a simple four-blade impeller, slightly smaller in
OD than the ID of the drum, works well. Means should be
provided to raise and lower the impeller during mixing. Bulk
mixing can be done in a ribbon blender, pug mill, or similar
apparatus.
SUMMARY
These brief product descriptions are presented as general guidelines in the
use of Fluid Tech solidification media. Because of nearly endless waste
varieties, determination of a specific waste and Fluid Tech media recipe is
essential to achieve optimum balance of efficiency and economy.
|
