Leaching of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from oil shale processing waste deposit: a long-term field study

Sci Total Environ. 2014 May 15:481:605-10. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.02.105. Epub 2014 Mar 13.

Abstract

The leaching behavior of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from an oil shale processing waste deposit was monitored during 2005-2009. Samples were collected from the deposit using a special device for leachate sampling at field conditions without disturbance of the upper layers. Contents of 16 priority PAHs in leachate samples collected from aged and fresh parts of the deposit were determined by GC-MS. The sum of the detected PAHs in leachates varied significantly throughout the study period: 19-315 μg/l from aged spent shale, and 36-151 μg/l from fresh spent shale. Among the studied PAHs the low-molecular weight compounds phenanthrene, naphthalene, acenaphthylene, and anthracene predominated. Among the high-molecular weight PAHs benzo[a]anthracene and pyrene leached in the highest concentrations. A spent shale deposit is a source of PAHs that could infiltrate into the surrounding environment for a long period of time.

Keywords: Field study; Industrial wastes; Leaching; PAHs; Spent shale.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Environmental Monitoring*
  • Extraction and Processing Industry
  • Groundwater / chemistry*
  • Oil and Gas Fields*
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / analysis*
  • Soil Pollutants / analysis*
  • Waste Management / methods*
  • Waste Products
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*

Substances

  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
  • Soil Pollutants
  • Waste Products
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical