Army Industrial Sludge Management Technologies: An Evaluation and Recommendations for Improvement.
Abstract
The industrial sludge generated by U.S. Army installations contains oil, grease. metals, and energetic compounds; and is frequently classified as hazardous waste. Treatment of wastewater from industrial operations at Army ammunition plants. depots, and arsenals generates a large quantity of sludge that requires special handling and disposal. Treatment of the wastewater results in annual disposal costs in the millions of dollars. The sludge management practices at four U.S. Army installations were studied to assess the current status of industrial waste treatment; to make recommendations for the improvement of current sludge management systems by applying proven technologies; and to determine future needs tor research and development of treatment technologies. Technologies and management techniques that can improve the Army's current industrial sludge management include: process water reuse, electrowinning, solvent recycling, inventory control, optimal chemical use, electrochemical precipitation, membrane separation, crystallization, and dewatering. This report makes specific recommendations for each installation. Promising and future technologies needing further development include: membrane separation for various applications, recycling and reuse technologies such as regeneration of activated carbon containing energetic waste, closed loop water treatment and reuse technologies, new generation sludge thickening and dewatering technologies, and biological treatment and separation of heavy metals.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADA301307
Entities
People
- Byung-joon Kim
- Edmond Kobylinski
- Gary Hunter
- Phil Martin
Organizations
- Construction Engineering Research Laboratory