CHARACTERIZATION AND DISPOSAL OF PAINT SLUDGE
Joel L. Pinsky, Mechanical Engineer
General Motors of Canada, Ltd.
Ste. Therese, Quebec
Canada J73 4K6
Dennis W. Weeter, Associate Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee 37916
INTRODUCTION
There has been much concern in recent times as to the degradation of the surrounding
aqueous environment due to leachate production in sanitary landfill sites.   Along with
this, the nonexistence in the literature of treatment and ultimate land disposal of paint
sludge makes the topic of this paper valuable at this time.
The industrial application of paint fUms generates some overspray, or waste.   In the
most common configuration, this overspray is captured in a water bath, beneath the floor
of the paint spray booth.   With the aid of air flotation and floculating chemicals, the paint
particles agglomerate, float to the surface of the water bath and are removed by fUtration.
Subsequently the sludges are disposed of in a sanitary landfill.
The by-product sludge contains heavy metals which are present in the original paint for
decorative and protective purposes.   When the sludge is placed in a landfUl disposal site a
potential problem is created.   This problem is the possibility of these heavy metals leaching into the surrounding aquatic environment.
This report wUl endeavor to show that insignificant amounts of trace elements present
in the sludge will be leached when disposed of in a landfUl.   This wUl be presented first
by the quantitative determination of the amount of each element originally present in the
sludge.   Then the second phase wUl establish a suitable test for evaluating the potential
leachate and the characterization of the simulated leachate.
In the dewatering of sludges, conditioning can have a profound effect on the dewatering rates and ultimate yields.   For this reason the effects of different chemical conditioners
on the dewatering rates of this sludge wUl be evaluated.
To complete this study and provide an overall perspective of dewatering technology, a
general review of parameters that are pertinent in developing a treatment and disposal
method for paint sludge wUl be presented.   Discussion of avaUable dewatering equipment
will be made with recommendation of the most suitable forms of equipment.
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
The treatment and disposal of paint sludge is not to be found in the literature.   This
literature review wUl be one of discussing parameters common to many sludges, in particular wastewater sludges.   The topics to be covered are; properties effecting dewatering;
sludge conditioning; avaUable dewatering techniques; and leachate potential from landfills.
Properties Affecting Dewatering
The dewaterabUity of sludge depends on the concentration, size, shape, surface characteristics, viscosity, ionic strength and the pH of the suspending water [ 1 ].   Although these
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