FEASIBILITY STUDY REGARDING LANDFILL OF
NITROCELLULOSE-LIME SLUDGE
Kathryn R. Huibregtse, Process Engineer
Alphonse E. Zanoni, Senior Environmental Engineer
David Zenker, Chemist
Environmental Sciences Division
Envirex Inc.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53214
Roger Anzzolin, Project Officer
Department of the Army, MERADCOM
Fort Belvoir, Virginia 22060
INTRODUCTION
The recent increased emphasis and regulations regarding disposal of hazardous waste
has made thorough evaluation of waste disposal procedures a critical aspect of a cost-
effectiveness analyses for new projects. The potential problems associated with handling
large amounts of sludge generated from a nitrocellulose (NC) manufacturing operation
were recognized by the U.S. Army when they evaluated the feasibility of changing processing modes for the product. As a result, they funded a project under U.S. Army
Contract Number DAAG 53-76-C-0082 to determine the feasibility of landfilling nitrocellulose-limed sludge. This study being performed by the Environmental Sciences
Division of Envirex, Inc. (ESD) started in March of 1976 and will be completed in the
summer of 1978.
Nitrocellulose is commonly manufactured by nitration of a cellulosic material in a
mixture of nitric and sulfuric acids. The nitrocellulose waste fines are generated by
numerous processes of washing, boiling, neutralization and beating which purify and
stabilize the nitrocellulose [ 1 ]. The acidic waste stream is neutralized by the addition
of lime, slaked lime and other chemicals. The resultant precipitate containing a mixture
of calcium sulfate and calcium hydroxide allows settling of fines in an alkaline environment. This sludge is then further dewatered by vacuum filtration prior to final disposal.
The major objectives of this study are: (a) Determination of the fate of nitrocellulose
fines from a limed sludge when placed in a landfill situation; and (b) Establishment of
the potential leachate quality associated with two mixtures of landfilled nitrocellulose
limed sludge. From this information, the basic feasibility of landfilling this material can
be determined.
The approaches to the study first involved a state-of-the-art review to identify degradation products which may be present in the leachate.   Then a sensitive method for
analyzing low concentrations of NC in leachate was developed and tested.   Finally,
lysimeter columns were constructed from 6" diameter PVC pipe.   These were filled with
soil from the Radford Arsenal landfill site, sludge or a sludge/soil mixture with a final
covering of top soil.   The columns were dosed at a high rate to reach field capacity
and then dosed at different rates three times per week.    Leachate samples have been
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