New York/ New Jersey Harbor: Alternative Methods for Ex ... - CLU-IN

The treated sediment passed ten standards out of the twelve standards set for the RCRA
metals. The copper and thallium concentrations in the decontaminated sediment both
exceeded the standard. The copper concentration was approximately 1000 ppm, which is
roughly 67% greater than the standard New Jersey Residential and Non-Residential
Standard of 600 ppm. The treated sediment also contained a thallium concentration of
approximately 4.97 ppm, nearly two and a half times the New Jersey standard of 2 ppm.
The other metal concentrations, however, were an average of 66% and 77% below the
New Jersey Residential and Non-Residential Standards respectively.
When comparing the contaminant concentration of the treated sediment to the standard,
one must take into account that the decontaminated material produced by the
Westinghouse Plasma Vitrification is a glass product not soil. As a result, the New
Jersey soil standards do not directly apply to the treated sediment, although they do
provide a rough basis of comparison between the technologies. The actual standards that
apply to the glass material will vary by the product which Westinghouse chooses to
manufacture. These standards are available through the EPA and American Society for
Testing and Materials (ASTM).
End-Use Product
The molten glass material produced by the Westinghouse Plasma Vitrification Process
can be used to make a variety of products including, but not limited to, glass fiber, glass
tiles, rock wool, aggregates, solar glass, and roofing granules. The preliminary phases for
creating aggregate, roofing granules, and rock wool are listed in The Process section.
Rock wool can be made by shooting a stream of air at a revolving wheel covered in
molten glass product to produce wool fibers. Steel mill slag is usually used to make rock
wool. However, new sulfur emission limits have deterred steel mills from producing
rock wool. The supply of rock wool has decreased, but the demand for rock wool has
remained relatively constant. As a result, where the demand used to be met by the
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