Dewatering Ash Sludge from Waste Pond
Managing difficult residuals is a key challenge for power and utility operations. This case study highlights how Geotube® dewatering technology and WaterSolve polymer solutions were used to process ash sludge from a New Jersey waste pond—helping the site meet disposal requirements and paving the way for future solids management improvements.
DOWNLOAD PDF Applications & ProductsGeotextile Tube Containers, DewateringServicesComplete Solution, Turnkey Project ManagementIndustryPower and UtilitiesLocationNew Jersey, USA
Pond Prior to Dredging
Accumulated carbon fines and residual process water in the barren pond before the start of dredging operations. Approximately 400 cubic yards of material were removed to prepare the pond for liner replacement.
Conditioned Carbon Fines Sample
A sample of carbon fines conditioned with Solve 9330 during bench testing. The polymer treatment effectively separated water from solids, demonstrating excellent dewatering performance and filtrate clarity.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the project was to process and manage the ash sludge residuals to pass a paint filter test for subsequent disposal. The ash sludge was to be pumped from the waste pond and treated with an emulsion polymer selected by WaterSolve from testing done previously in their laboratory. The treated ash sludge was then pumped into the Geotube® MDS containers where the sludge would be contained and the resulting filtrate would be sent back to the wastewater plant located on site. Upon
completion, evaluations would be made on future clean-out of the New Jersey waste pond with the goal of installing a permanent system for solids dewatering on site.
CHEMICAL CONDITIONING
Geotube® containers are manufactured from high strength polypropylene fabric and designed to allow effluent water to escape through the pores of the fabric while retaining the chemically conditioned solids. A Geotube® estimator indicated that approximately 135,000 gallons of the 3.5% dry wt. solids drying down to 20% were treated, dewatered, and stored in the eight Geotube® MDS containers.
GEOTUBE® CONTAINER SIZING
Geotube® containers are manufactured from high strength polypropylene fabric and designed to allow effluent water to escape through the pores of the fabric while retaining the chemically conditioned solids. The engineers for the New Jersey facility wanted Geotube® containers that fit on pallets and could be loaded on trucks with forklifts. 48’ by 52” containers were custom made for this application.
