Chemical Waste Disposal

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Chemical Waste Disposal
At Purdue
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The chemical waste in the US is regulated
differently depending on

1. where it comes from.

1. how much waste is produced.

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Topics

• Definition
• Compatibility
• Collection
• Tracking
• Labeling

• Segregation
• Satellites (!?)
• Getting rid of it
• Quickly

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Define Hazardous Waste

• First it has to be waste.
• Then it has to be either

1. ignitable
2. corrosive
3. reactive
4. toxic

1. hazardous by characteristic

1. or a listed waste material (listed by name or
   by source) in the regulations

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Repeat 1st -- it has to be waste.

• If its not a waste,
• then it cant be a hazardous waste!
• (simplified) Waste material intended for
  disposal

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Listed waste examples

• any waste mixture containing 10 or more xylene,
  acetone, ethyl acetate, ethylbenzene, ethyl
  ether, methyl isobutyl ketone, n-butyl alcohol,
  cyclohexanone, methanol, or any combination(F003
  waste)
• unused p-Nitroaniline (P077 waste)

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Characteristic HW is either

• Corrosive pH gt12 or pH lt 2.5
• Ignitable 4-part definition which includes most
  strong oxidizers!
• Reactive 8-part definition focuses on reactivity
  with air or water producing high energy or toxic
  gas.
• Toxic leachate contains toxins in EPA D004
  D043 list, handout p. 24.

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Chemical Compatibility

• Evaluate compatibility of wastes BEFORE mixing
  them together.
• Where possible, neutralize strong acids/bases,
  react reactives, reduce oxidizers, oxidize
  reducing agents.

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Collecting Waste Mixtures

• Collect in appropriate containers segregate
  hazards
• Acids typically dissolve metals.
• Some solvents dissolve some plastics.
• HF and strong caustic etch glass
• Dont mix radioisotope and chemical waste.
• Keep all mercury separate.

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Chemical Tracking
On log sheet of every waste container

• All ingredients are to be listed.
• EPA-regulated items will be named, waste
  characteristics made clear.
• Compatibility questions answered.
• Your group waste manager will be able to do the
  job well.

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Toxic characteristic chemicals names must always
be noted.

• See your handout p. 24

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Toxic characteristic chemicals names must be
includedon label and pickup request.

• Any trace of any of those chemicals must be
  mentioned in the waste name(the chemical
  description on the pickup form and contents
  on the waste label.)

• Other characteristics must also be made obvious
  in the name ignitability, corrosivity,
  reactivity.

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Container Labeling

• Manufacturers label is fine for unwanted
  store-bought chemicals.
• For all chemicals mixtures not in
  manu-facturers container
• Contents - no abbreviations,no symbols, no
  formulae.
• Percentages must add to 100.
• This orange label not required, but widely
  recognized and used.

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Segregation of containers

• Segregate as regular chemical storage
• Acids separate from Bases
• Oxidizers not close to Organics
• Water-Reactives away from water.
• (And carefully consider waste mixing, also
  container compatibility!)

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Satellite Accumulation Areas (its the jargon
of the business know it)

• Container(s) must be
• at/near point of generation of the waste, under
  generators control,
• marked with words Hazardous Waste, and contents
  identified,
• in good condition,
• compatible with the waste,
• kept closed securely,
• handled to avoid rupture or leakage,
• And.

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Satellite Accumulation Areas continued

• If more than 55 gallons, or more that 1 qt of
  acute hazardous waste
• it must be moved to the permitted waste facility
  (LMSB) within three (3) days.
• Generator (person generating waste)
• must demonstrate
• a good faith effort to minimize waste

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Ensuring That Your Waste Leaves Quickly

• On Pickup Form
• Fill out correctly, neatly, legibly.
• Questions? Call 40121.
• Labels must match pickup request names.

• In the Lab
• Sealed, clean, correct containers.
• Area and waste are safe for REM people.

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Exercise 1
This one gallon jaris about 25 full of broken
thermometers. Write a waste pickup request for
it. http//www.purdue.edu/rem/home/forms/pickupfm
.htm
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Exercise 2
There are three 1 lb bottles of unused sodium
thiosulfate. Write a second line on your waste
pickup for these.
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Exercise 3
Waste container (4 L) log sheet says Write
a third line on your waste pickup for this.
acetone (wet) 500 mL
hexane 800 mL
ethyl acetate 50 mL
ether 250 mL
THF 900 mL
ether 1 L
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Answer to Ex 1
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Answer to Ex 2
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Answer to Ex 3
acetone (wet) 500 mL
hexane 800 mL
ethyl acetate 50 mL
ether 250 mL
THF 900 mL
ether 1 L