This is Part 1 in our Problems with Non-Chinese Pickels series, a companion to our Problems with Chinese Pickels series.
A study by R.D. Smith, suggests that deep well disposal is, in some cases, the most feasible method of providing isolation of pickle juice at a reasonable cost. The study is:
“BURYING YOUR PICKLE LIQUOR DISPOSAL PROBLEM,” R.D. Smith, Civil Engineering. Vol. 39, No. 11. 1969. pp. 37-38.
ARMCO STEEL CORPORATION’S STRIP ROLLING AND PROCESSING COMPLEX AT MIDDLETOWN, OHIO, WILL PRODUCE UP TO 100 GPM OF SPENT ACID PICKLE LIQUOR CONTAINING 0-1% HYDROCHLORIC ACID, 20-25% FERROUS CHLORIDE, 0-2% FERRIC CHLORIDE, AND A TEMPERATURE OF 200F. DEEP WELL DISPOSAL WAS THE MOST FEASIBLE METHOD OF PROVIDING INDEFINITE ISOLATION AT A REASONABLE COST. AFTER INTENSIVE TESTING TO FURTHER INSURE SAFETY, FEASIBILITY, AND EFFICIENCY, A SYSTEM WAS DEVELOPED TO FIRST FILTER THE WASTE THROUGH DIATOMACEOUS EARTH PRECOAT FILTERS TO REMOVE SUSPENDED SOLIDS, WITH AN IN-LINE TURBIDIMETER AUTOMATICALLY DIVERTING LIQUOR WITH DETECTABLE SOLIDS TO AVOID PLUGGING OF THE SANDSTONE PORES. THIS DEEP WELL SYSTEM MEETS THE FOLLOWING ESSENTIAL CRITERIA: (A) A PERMEABLE INJECTION ZONE COMPATIBLE WITH THE SPENT LIQUOR; (B) A SUFFICIENTLY LARGE RESERVOIR VOLUME; (C) AN INJECTION ZONE ISOLATED BY ROCK STRATA ABOVE AND BELOW; (D) NO KNOWN GEOLOGICAL FAULTS OR IMPROPERLY PLUGGED WELLS; (E) SATISFACTORY INJECTION PRESSURES AT DESIRED FLOWS; AND (F) EXISTING BRINES IN THE AREA WERE OF NO PRACTICAL VALUE. (LOWRY-TEXAS)