Test for Dredged Material Effluent Quality

Abstract

The quality of efflent discharged from confined dredged material disposal areas is an environmental concern when the sediments to be dredged are contaminated. Sedimentation which occurs during the confined disposal and dissolved contaminants may be discharged in the effluent. This study developed a workable and easily applied technique for prediction of the quality of effluent from confined dredged material disposal areas. A modified elutriate test was developed to simulate the physicochemical conditions in confined disposal areas which would affect the release of contaminants. Factorial experiments were conducted to select appropriate test factors for simulating the oxidizing conditions and retention times present in confined disposal areas. The test was found to accurately predict the dissolved concentration of contaminants and the fractions of contaminants associated with the suspended solids in the effluent.