ENVIRONMENTAL DATA FROM BENCH-SCALE PRESSURIZED FLUIDIZED-BED HYDRORETORTING OF EASTERN OIL SHALES

As part of a three year programme to develop the pressurized fluidized-bed hydroretorting (PFH) process for Eastern oil shales, tests were conducted in laboratory-scale batch and continuous units as well as a bench-scale unit (45 kg h-1) to generate a data base for six Eastern shales. Data were collected during PFH processing of raw Alabama and Indiana shales and a beneficiated Indiana shale for environmental mitigation analyses. The data generated include trace element analyses of the raw feeds and spent shales, product oils and sour waters. The sulphur compounds present in the product gas and trace components in the sour water were also determined. In addition, the leaching characteristics of the feed and residue solids were determined. The data obtained were used to evaluate the environmental impact of a shale processing plant based on the PFH process. This paper presents the environmental data obtained from bench-scale tests conducted during the programme.