ASTM D7243-06

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation:D7243–06
Standard Guide for
Measuring the Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity of Paper
Industry Sludges
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 7243; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. This standard
contains a hazards section regarding the use of biocides
1.1 Paper industry sludges are industrial by-products de-
(Section 10).
rivedfromwastewatertreatmentoperationsatplantsassociated
1.5 This guide offers an organized collection of information
with the manufacturing of paper. These sludges typically
or a series of options and does not recommend a specific
consist of clay and organic matter. They may also contain low
course of action. This document cannot replace education or
levels of inorganic and organic contaminants and can be rich in
experience and should be used in conjunction with professional
microbes. Traditionally, paper industry sludges have been
judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all
disposed in municipal solid waste landfills or solid waste
circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to repre-
monofills. However, in the interest of sustainability, applica-
sent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of
tions are being developed where sludges can be used benefi-
a given professional service must be judged, nor should this
cially. One application is using sludge to construct hydraulic
document be applied without consideration of a project’s many
barriers (for example, for use in a landfill cap). Such applica-
unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title of this
tions generally require that the hydraulic conductivity of the
document means only that the document has been approved
sludge be measured.
through the ASTM consensus process.
1.2 Compactedpaperindustrysludgesgenerallybehavelike
soils and are amenable to geotechnical testing methods. How-
2. Referenced Documents
ever, several of their attributes require special attention during
2.1 ASTM Standards:
testing. Compacted industry sludges generally are highly
D 653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
compressible due to their organic component. Thus, their
Fluids
hydraulic conductivity can be more sensitive to the effective
D 698 Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Character-
stress and hydraulic gradient applied during testing than most
istics of Soil Using Standard Effort (12,400 ft-lbf/ft (600
soils. The microbes in paper sludge can also produce gas
kN-m/m ))
during testing, confounding testing methods.
D 1557 Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Charac-
1.3 This guide is intended to supplement ASTM D 5084,
teristics of Soil Using Modified Effort (56,000 ft-lbf/ft
Test Methods for Measurement of Hydraulic Conductivity of
(2,700 kN-m/m ))
Saturated Porous Materials Using a Flexible Wall Permeame-
D 1587 Practice for Thin-Walled Tube Sampling of Soils
ter. The purpose of the guide is to provide additional guidance
for Geotechnical Purposes
on issues relevant to testing sludges using Test Methods
D 2216 Test Methods for Laboratory Determination of Wa-
D 5084. The guide applies to specimens compacted in the
ter (Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass
laboratory using procedures such as those described in Test
D 3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies
Methods D 698 and D 1557 or undisturbed specimens col-
Engaged in the Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock
lected from the field using procedures such as Practice D 1587
as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
or Practice D 7015.
D 5084 Test Methods for Measurement of Hydraulic Con-
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
ductivity of Saturated Porous Materials Using a Flexible
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Wall Permeameter
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
D 7015 PracticesforObtainingUndisturbedBlock(Cubical
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
1 2
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rock For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.04 on Hydrologic Properties contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
and Hydraulic Barriers. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2006. Published March 2006. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D7243–06
dations in this guide depends on the competence of the personnel
and Cylindrical) Samples of Soils
performing the testing and the suitability of the equipment and facilities
D 7100 Test Method for Hydraulic Conductivity Compat-
that are employed. Agencies that meet the criteria of Practice D 3740 are
ibility Testing of Soils with Aqueous Solutions
generally considered capable of competent and objective testing, sam-
pling, inspection, etc. Users of this guide are cautioned that compliance
3. Terminology
with Practice D 3740 does not in itself ensure reliable results. Reliable
results depend on many factors; Practice D 3740 provides a means of
3.1 Definitions—For common definitions of other terms in
evaluating some of those factors.
this standard, see Terminology D 653.
3.1.1 paper industry sludge—porous solid material derived
5. Reagents
from clarification of water during wastewater treatment opera-
5.1 Permeant Water:
tions at plants producing paper and similar materials. Also
5.1.1 Selection of the permeant water should follow the
referred to as paper sludge, papermill sludge, fiber clay, paper
instructions in Section 6 ofTest Methods D 5084. Comparative
clay, or sludge.
testing has been conducted to assess whether the hydraulic
3.1.2 head loss, h or h—the change in total head of water
L
conductivity of sludge is sensitive to the type of water used for
across a given distance.
testing. Tests conducted by Nelson and Benson indicate that
3.1.2.1 Discussion—Typically the change in total head is
essentially the same hydraulic conductivity is obtained if
across the influent and effluent lines connected to the per-
hydraulic conductivity tests on paper sludge are conducted
meameter, while the given distance is typically the length of
with tap water, deionized water, 0.005 M CalCl , 0.01 M
the test specimen.
CaCl , or 0.01 N CaSO . These permeant waters should be
2 4
3.1.3 permeameter—the apparatus (cell) containing the test
considered equivalent when testing paper sludge.
specimen in a hydraulic conductivity test.
5.1.2 Insomecases,abiocidemaybeaddedtothepermeant
3.1.3.1 Discussion—The apparatus in this case is typically a
water to prevent generation of gases associated with microbial
triaxial-type cell with all of its components (top and bottom
activity. Testing conducted previously suggests that biocides
specimen caps, stones, and filter paper; membrane; chamber;
do not alter the hydraulic conductivity of paper sludges when
top and bottom plates; valves; etc.). However, the cell gener-
used at concentrations recommended by the manufacturer.
ally does not have a loading piston.
However, comprehensive testing has not been conducted to
3.1.4 hydraulic conductivity, k—the rate of discharge of
assess how all biocides affect the hydraulic conductivity of
water under laminar flow conditions through a unit cross-
paper sludges (for example, through chemical interactions with
sectional area of porous medium under a unit hydraulic
the solid phase). If chemical interactions are a concern, an
gradient and standard temperature conditions (20°C).
assessment can be made with side-by-side testing using an
3.1.4.1 Discussion—Theterm coeffıcient of permeability(or
alternative method to prevent gas generation.
permeability) is often used instead of hydraulic conductivity,
but hydraulic conductivity is used exclusively in this standard.
6. Procedures to Minimize Gas Generation
These terms are synonymous.
6.1 Gases generated by microbial activity can confound
4. Significance and Use hydraulic conductivity testing of paper sludges. Indications of
gas generation include: (1) inability to meet the termination
4.1 This guide is intended to supplement the methods and
criteria in Test Methods D 5084 for steady hydraulic conduc-
proceduresdescribedinTestMethodsD 5084.Whenfollowing
tivity and continuity (section 9.5 in Test Methods D 5084), (2)
the recommendations in this guide to test paper sludges, all
flow in the influent system in the opposite direction of the
assumptions and limitations described in Test Methods D 5084
applied hydraulic gradient, and (3) outflow much greater than
apply.
inflow. This section describes how to deal with gas generation.
4.2 This guide only applies to hydraulic conductivity tests
6.2 Gas generation can be minimized or eliminated by
on paper industry sludges where one-dimensional laminar flow
preventing or minimizing microbial activity or by applying
of water is imposed using a flexible-wall permeameter.
elevated backpres
...