Bench-scale testing of molten food-grade paraffin wax and high density polyethylene as injectable grouts

Abstract

Molten, food-grade paraffin wax and molten high density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic were tested for use as injectable grouts. The food-grade wax was tested under both saturated and unsaturated conditions, and the HDPE was tested for unsaturated conditions. The grouted medium was fractured shale. The paraffin wax sealed well under both saturated and unsaturated conditions with no shrinkage upon cooling. The HDPE suffered significant shrinkage during cooling, which adversely affected its sealing potential. Our bench-scale tests suggest that molten wax grout may be useful to shut off mine water influx in fractured rock and/or seal mine tailings piles to prevent the development of acid mine drainage and/or leaching of metals and mineral processing chemicals.

Keywords:

• Wax
• Grout
• Polyethylene
• Water shut off