Reclamation of Phosphatic Clay Waste Ponds by Capping. Volume 3: Evaluation of the Use of Geotextiles for Capping Phosphatic Waste Clay Ponds

02-030-062Final

Abstract

The basic objective of this research was to evaluate the use of geotextiles for capping phosphatic clay waste clay ponds and, thus, to enhance the consolidation process of these materials.

A system was designed and constructed for performing the permeability tests such that four geotextiles could be tested simultaneously. Waste clays at initial solids contents ranging from 17 to 19% were placed in the system and allowed to consolidate against the bottom of the geotextiles under the application of an approximate 21 inch water head difference and air pressure ranging from 3 to 4 psi, resulting in total head differences ranging from 8.6 to 10.9 feet of water. Flow rates versus time were determined for each of the geotextiles that were tested.

At the conclusion of each group of tests, samples of the waste clays were obtained adjacent to each geotextile to determine the final solids content. Additionally, scanning electron microphotographs (SEM’s) were obtained of several of the geotextiles before and after testing in order to examine clogging within the geotextiles.

All of the above results were then utilized to compare the long term filtration/permeability characteristics for the tested geotextiles in order to develop a recommendation for selecting a geotextile for use in field testing applications.

Reclamation of Phosphatic Clay Waste Ponds by Capping.
Other Volumes

FIPR Publication No. 02-030-056
Volume 1: Centrifugal Model Evaluation of Reclamation Schemes for Phosphatic Waste Clay Ponds. University of Florida. April, 1988.

FIPR Publication No. 02-030-061
Volume 2: Centrifugal Modeling of the Consolidation Behavior of Phosphatic Clay Mixed with Lime or Gypsum. University of Florida. April, 1988.

FIPR Publication No. 02-030-063
Volume 4: Piecewise Linear Computer Modeling of Large Strain Consolidation. University of Florida. April, 1988.

FIPR Publication No. 02-030-075
Volume 5: Centrifugal Model Evaluation of the Consolidation Behavior of Phosphatic Clays and Sand/Clay Mixes. University of Florida. March, 1989.

FIPR Publication No. 02-030-073
Volume 6: Consolidation Properties of Phosphatic Clays from Automated Slurry Consolidometer and Centrifugal Model Tests. University of Florida. February, 1989.

University of Florida