Stabilization/Solidification of Petroleum Drill Cuttings: Thermal and Microstructural Studies of Binder Hydration Products

摘要

A typical organic waste, petroleum drill cuttings containing hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and chlorides, was treated by stabilization/solidification (S/S) using cement and high carbon fly ash. Analytical techniques, including differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry/microspectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis, were used to investigate the effect of drill cuttings on binder hydration products, the interaction between binders and drill cuttings, and the type of immobilization mechanism occurring. Results show that both high carbon fly ash and drill cuttings addition decreased the amounts of binder hydration products. Hydrocarbons were discovered to be physically trapped by micro- and macroencapsulation in the matrix formed by binder hydration. Chemical interaction was observed between binders and chlorides leading to Friedel's salt formation. Differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transform infrared analysis of residues from leaching test indicated that exposure of S/S products to leaching conditions could compromise their integrity. This work demonstrates use of these techniques to investigate the interactions between a waste and binder during S/S, thus aiding the development of an effective S/S system.