Modification of a Plant Process to Produce a Useful Material from a Hazardous Solid Waste Generated by the General Electric Silicone Products Division at Waterford, NY - Project Summary

This research deals with the study and modification of the initial process used by the General Electric Silicones plant to produce a useful material from the hazardous waste it generates. The generation and treatment of the waste is given in a brief overview. Samples taken at various stages in the industrial process were characterized by chemical and physical analyses. Results showed that amorphous silica was the major component in a11 of the samples along with calcium carbonate in significant amounts and copper in lower concentrations. The lime slurry usage and the pH control of the plant process were investigated to determine if a reduction in lime usage could be achieved with a resulting cost savings and a reduction in waste produced. Initial plant experiments indicate that these improvements can be achieved. One possible industrial application investigated was partial replacement of cement in mortar or concrete. Higher compressive strength and improvement in the permeability of the concrete resulted. Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure tests on the concrete specimens containing the waste were well below the limits for the metals listed by the Environmental Protection Agency. Further investigations showed that more of the waste could be used in asphalt rather than in mortar or cement if additional water in the waste could be removed. A series of plant experiments were conducted using a variety of equipment from different manufacturers to reduce the water content of the waste. Based on these experiments two new plate and frame presses have been installed in a new facility at a total cost of $3.2 million. The solids conteiit of the waste has been increased from 30 to 50% with a resulting reduction in volume of 45% of the waste being landfilled. Use of the waste in asphalt has proven to constitute a beneficial use of the hazardous material generated by the General Electric plant at Waterford. It has been approved by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as an additive to sand mixes that will eventually be used as ingredients for making hot mix asphalt produced by SRP, Inc. in Mechanicville, New York.