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Final Report: Evaluation of Road Base Material Derived from Tank Bottom Sludges

EPA Grant Number: R827015C001
Subproject: this is subproject number 001 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R827015
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: IPEC University of Tulsa (TU)
Center Director: Sublette, Kerry L.
Title: Evaluation of Road Base Material Derived from Tank Bottom Sludges
Investigators: Veenstra, John N. , Sanders, Dee Ann , Snethen, Donald R.
Institution: Oklahoma State University
EPA Project Officer: Krishnan, Bala S.
Project Period: July 23, 1999 through June 22, 2000 (Extended to December 22, 2000)
Project Amount: Refer to main center abstract for funding details.
RFA: Integrated Petroleum Environmental Consortium (IPEC) (1999)
Research Category: Targeted Research , Hazardous Waste/Remediation

Description:

Objective:

The purpose of this research project was to evaluate the suitability of crude oil tank-bottom sludges for use in roadbase mixtures for light-duty roads. Disposal of tank sludges is a significant item of tank maintenance for producers, refiners and transporters of petroleum materials. All tanks eventually accumulate sludge, but the worst problems occur in crude tanks at production locations. Beneficial reuse from small production sites requires that the sludge material be reused without treatment. The amendment of asphalt road base material using tank bottom sludges to create an "asphalt-like" material should prove very economical.

To determine the suitability of sludges for this purpose, a research project was designed to:

Sample representative tank batteries over a wide geographical area and over a number of producing strata;
Determine physical and chemical properties of the sludges and compare them to properties of asphalt emulsions used for roadbase mixtures on light-duty roads;
Form roadbase samples using different soil aggregates and a range of sludge samples;
Test the samples for properties appropriate to roadbase material for light-duty roads;
Subject the samples to multiple freeze/thaw cycles;
Analyze the samples for leaching of toxic organics and metals using TCLP protocols;
Analyze leachate for acute toxicity using Ceriodaphnia dubia;
Analyze samples for content of normally-occurring radioactive material (NORM); and
Make recommendations on the suitability of tank-bottom sludges for roadbase material.

Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):

Sludge samples were obtained from ten tank batteries;
Samples were analyzed for specific gravity, loss due to evaporation at 60 and 100 C, metals by ICP spectrometry, n-Hexane extractable material (HEM), characterization of C6 to C35 petroleum hydrocarbons, fractionation into saturates, aromatics, and asphaltenes;
Four sludges were selected from the ten and were used to form roadbase samples using two different soil aggregates. These samples were subjected to physical testing to establish material suitability for use in roadbases: AASHTO - T166-83 Bulk Specific Gravity of Compacted Bituminous Mixtures; AASHTO - T209-82 Maximum Specific Gravity of Bituminous Paving Mixtures; and AASHTO - T246-82 Resistance to Deformation and Cohesion of Bituminous Mixtures by Means of Hveem Apparatus.
The four samples were subjected to multiple freeze/thaw cycles, then were analyzed for hazardous materials as follows:

TCLP characterization of toxic metals and toxic organics (not including pesticides);
48hr acute toxicity testing of leachate (using Ceriodaphnia dubia);
Content of normally-occurring radioactive material (NORM).

Conclusions:

The findings of the project were:

None of the sludges made roadbase material that met the minimum specifications for light-duty roads.
None of the roadbase samples was hazardous according to the TCLP analyses.
Leachates from all the samples were toxic according to the 48-hour acute toxicity test.
None of the samples had unacceptable levels of NORM.

The recommendation that can be made from the results of this project is to dispose of or reuse the tank-bottom sludges under existing state rules. In Oklahoma, the sludges can be used as a topcoat for lease or county roads, in accordance with a permit granted by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. As long as the leachate is prevented from entering ambient waters (which is prohibited under Federal law and the state permit requirements), the environmental harm appears minimal.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 1 publications for this subproject

Supplemental Keywords:

tank-bottom sludge, crude oil sludge, recycled construction material, sludge landfarming. , Sustainable Industry/Business, Scientific Discipline, RFA, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Sustainable Environment, Civil/Environmental Engineering, Chemistry, cleaner production/pollution prevention, Chemistry and Materials Science, New/Innovative technologies, Civil Engineering, Engineering, reuse, hydrocarbons, hydrocarbon, road material, IPEC, alternative materials, pollution prevention, construction material

Progress and Final Reports:
1999 Progress Report
2000 Progress Report
Original Abstract

Main Center Abstract and Reports:
R827015 IPEC University of Tulsa (TU)

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R827015C001 Evaluation of Road Base Material Derived from Tank Bottom Sludges
R827015C002 Passive Sampling Devices (PSDs) for Bioavailability Screening of Soils Containing Petrochemicals
R827015C003 Demonstration of a Subsurface Drainage System for the Remediation of Brine-Impacted Soil
R827015C004 Anaerobic Intrinsic Bioremediation of Whole Gasoline
R827015C005 Microflora Involved in Phytoremediation of Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons
R827015C006 Microbial Treatment of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM)
R827015C007 Using Plants to Remediate Petroleum-Contaminated Soil
R827015C008 The Use of Nitrate for the Control of Sulfide Formation in Oklahoma Oil Fields
R827015C009 Surfactant-Enhanced Treatment of Oil-Contaminated Soils and Oil-Based Drill Cuttings
R827015C010 Novel Materials for Facile Separation of Petroleum Products from Aqueous Mixtures Via Magnetic Filtration
R827015C011 Development of Relevant Ecological Screening Criteria (RESC) for Petroleum Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Exploration and Production Sites
R827015C012 Humate-Induced Remediation of Petroleum Contaminated Surface Soils
R827015C013 New Process for Plugging Abandoned Wells
R827015C014 Enhancement of Microbial Sulfate Reduction for the Remediation of Hydrocarbon Contaminated Aquifers - A Laboratory and Field Scale Demonstration
R827015C015 Locating Oil-Water Interfaces in Process Vessels
R827015C016 Remediation of Brine Spills with Hay
R827015C017 Continuation of an Investigation into the Anaerobic Intrinsic Bioremediation of Whole Gasoline
R827015C018 Using Plants to Remediate Petroleum-Contaminated Soil
R827015C019 Biodegradation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Salt-Impacted Soil by Native Halophiles or Halotolerants and Strategies for Enhanced Degradation
R827015C020 Anaerobic Intrinsic Bioremediation of MTBE
R827015C021 Evaluation of Commercial, Microbial-Based Products to Treat Paraffin Deposition in Tank Bottoms and Oil Production Equipment
R827015C022 A Continuation: Humate-Induced Remediation of Petroleum Contaminated Surface Soils
R827015C023 Data for Design of Vapor Recovery Units for Crude Oil Stock Tank Emissions
R827015C024 Development of an Environmentally Friendly and Economical Process for Plugging Abandoned Wells
R827015C025 A Continuation of Remediation of Brine Spills with Hay
R827015C026 Identifying the Signature of the Natural Attenuation of MTBE in Goundwater Using Molecular Methods and "Bug Traps"
R827015C027 Identifying the Signature of Natural Attenuation in the Microbial Ecology of Hydrocarbon Contaminated Groundwater Using Molecular Methods and "Bug Traps"
R827015C028 Using Plants to Remediate Petroleum-Contaminated Soil: Project Continuation
R827015C030 Effective Stormwater and Sediment Control During Pipeline Construction Using a New Filter Fence Concept
R827015C031 Evaluation of Sub-micellar Synthetic Surfactants versus Biosurfactants for Enhanced LNAPL Recovery
R827015C032 Utilization of the Carbon and Hydrogen Isotopic Composition of Individual Compounds in Refined Hydrocarbon Products To Monitor Their Fate in the Environment
R830633 Integrated Petroleum Environmental Consortium (IPEC)
R830633C001 Development of an Environmentally Friendly and Economical Process for Plugging Abandoned Wells (Phase II)
R830633C002 A Continuation of Remediation of Brine Spills with Hay
R830633C003 Effective Stormwater and Sediment Control During Pipeline Construction Using a New Filter Fence Concept
R830633C004 Evaluation of Sub-micellar Synthetic Surfactants versus Biosurfactants for Enhanced LNAPL Recovery
R830633C005 Utilization of the Carbon and Hydrogen Isotopic Composition of Individual Compounds in Refined Hydrocarbon Products To Monitor Their Fate in the Environment
R830633C006 Evaluation of Commercial, Microbial-Based Products to Treat Paraffin Deposition in Tank Bottoms and Oil Production Equipment
R830633C007 Identifying the Signature of the Natural Attenuation in the Microbial Ecology of Hydrocarbon Contaminated Groundwater Using Molecular Methods and “Bug Traps”
R830633C008 Using Plants to Remediate Petroleum-Contaminated Soil: Project Continuation
R830633C009 Use of Earthworms to Accelerate the Restoration of Oil and Brine Impacted Sites
X832428C001 Effective Stormwater and Sediment Control During Pipeline Construction Using a New Filter Fence Concept
X832428C002 Paraffin Control in Oil Wells Using Anaerobic Microorganisms
X832428C003 Fiber Rolls as a Tool for Re-Vegetation of Oil-Brine Contaminated Watersheds

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Final Report: Evaluation of Road Base Material Derived from Tank Bottom Sludges

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