Insights into the Vanadium Industry and Chemical Compounds
Michael R. Woolery, a Chemical Engineer with extensive experience in vanadium processes, sheds light on the U.S. vanadium industry, sodium orthovanadate compound, toxicokinetic properties of organic vs. inorganic vanadium compounds, environmental exposure sources, and the impact of reference doses on the industry.
- Vanadium Industry
- Chemical Compounds
- Environmental Exposure
- Toxicokinetic Properties
- Rensselaer Polytechnic
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Presentation Transcript
Michael R. Woolery Chemical Engineer Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 45 years experience in plant and process design Vanadium Technologist Familiar with vanadium processes worldwide Been to most of the currently active plants
U.S. Vanadium Industry Currently no active mining for vanadium in the U.S. Processing slags, power plant ashes, spent catalysts, etc. Items the IRIS documents claim to be main sources of anthropogenic release of vanadium to the environment Only two production facilities in the U.S. 95 % of worldwide vanadium production end up in either titanium or steel which will not release Vanadium to the environment
Sodium orthovanadate is not a relevant compound Exists in solution only at a pH above 12.5 Contains 6 moles of NaOH per mole of V2O5 Does not naturally occur in nature Is not formed in commercial vanadium processes Na addition to roast insufficient to form sodium orthovanadate pH of leach liquors shows that sodium pyrovanadate is formed
Toxicokinetic Properties Organic vs Inorganic V Compounds Vanadyl sulfate vs vanadyl oxalate Both are used to make the same products Similar solubility, pH and even color Produce same vanadyl ion under similar conditions Likely to have similar toxicokinetic properties
Vanadium and Organics Primary source of environmental exposure to vanadium is from food. Almost all vanadium in water is from natural sources. Volcanic sources are a prime origin Many of the North American vanadium deposits are organic in nature Athabasca tar sands Carnotite ores in Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico Asphaltenes Vanadium is present in crude oil especially in Texas and California
Impact of RfD on the Vanadium Industry Current PPRTV of 7 x 10-5mg/kg-day is below the background vanadium levels in water (tap water is 1.3 to 33 g V/l) Ground water contamination ground water vanadium levels in ore bodies are much higher than background whether mined or not Effluent limits water in the area of vanadium deposits is already above the national background levels Storm water permitting storm water picks up soil which puts it above background for vanadium everywhere Reclamation even if ground water is reclaimed to background levels, it will increase over time due to higher vanadium in the soil
