Preventing surface deposition of chromium with asphalt caps at chromite ore processing residue sites: a case study

Caps were constructed on chromite ore processing residue (COPR) sites in the Kearny, New Jersey, area between 1989 and 1994 to prevent human exposure to hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)). The caps comprise geotextile overlain by 100 mm of dense graded aggregate (DGA) and 100 mm of hot mix asphalt (HMA). Prior to constructing these "composite asphalt caps" (CACs), Cr(VI) was sometimes deposited on surface soils as chromate (salts) during evaporative periods. We initially thought the geotextile and DGA acted as a capillary barrier, stopping capillary water rise, but site inspection revealed that the DGA and geotextile were too moist to perform this function. Further study included a literature review, DGA capillary rise estimates, in situ measurement of soil-water content over 7 months at a representative COPR site, and numerical modeling of matric suction gradients induced by evaporation. The collective results reveal that the CACs eliminate upward matric suction gradients from the COPR-soil through the DGA, thereby precluding surface chromate deposition. Even during evaporative periods, the low unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of the HMA restricts upward movement of moisture and soluble chromate from underlying COPR-soil. In contrast, there are almost always upward matric suction gradients in uncapped COPR-soil.