Physicochemical Characterization of Horizontal Directional Drilling Residuals

Joshua Daniel, Chad Penn, João Antonangelo and Hailin Zhang
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Joshua Daniel: Plant and Soil Sciences Department, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74075, USA
Chad Penn: USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory, 275 South Russell Street, West Lafayette, IN 479072077, USA
João Antonangelo: Plant and Soil Sciences Department, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74075, USA
Hailin Zhang: Plant and Soil Sciences Department, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74075, USA

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 18, 1-12

Abstract: Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) is a trenchless technology mainly used for the installation of gas, sewer lines, and fiber optic cables. Spent HDD fluid is a by-product of the boring process. However, little is known of its constituency, although the land application of spent HDD residuals would be an economical and less time-consuming method of disposal. Physicochemical analysis of spent HDD residuals from broad geographic regions was conducted to determine if the land application would be an environmentally safe option for disposal. Fifty-eight HDD samples were collected from 26 states throughout the United States. After separation of the liquid and solid portion, the materials were assessed for carbon (C), nitrogen (N), plant nutrients, soluble and total trace metals, total dissolved solids, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and potential “leachable metals”. All trace metal concentrations in the digested solid portion were well below the limits for biosolids set by the EPA 40 Part 503 rule for land application. Metal concentrations did not exceed the limits of drinking water standards. Besides the total amount of solids, there was nothing chemically limiting HDD residuals from land application. However, if boring through soil with suspected contamination, testing the residual before the application is recommended.

Keywords: residuals; horizontal directional drilling; industrial by-products; metals; synthetic precipitation leaching procedure; land application (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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