Bulking (Mixing) Chemicals

Dilbert Hazmat Start • DILBERT © 2002 Scott Adams. Used By permission of ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION. All rights reserved.

Why Listen to Me? 17 continuous years of bulking experience CHMM for ~20 years B.S. Molecular Biology Tulane Environmental Science Officer, US Army

Why Not to Listen to Me? Bulked only NMSU waste streams No degrees in Chemistry Also manage NMSU Air Permits Conservative approach to bulking

If You Bulk It You Own It! It only takes one wrong chemical to cause a bad reaction Or lead to a contractor rejecting a drum and driving the cost sky high

Chemical Bulking Positives Environmentally Friendly- Better Treatment Options Environmentally Friendly- Re-use Empty Containers Cost Effective

Keys to Successful Bulking Careful chemical testing before bulking SDS research before bulking Must balance chemical hazards/dilution/volumes versus risks versus labpacking costs

General Bulking Advice Bulk lower hazard, more dilute, higher volume wastes Labpack higher hazard, more concentrated, smaller containers

Bulk in Level B PPE/Supplied Air

Eight Main Bulk Drum Categories Used Oils Ignitables (Non-Chlorinated Solvents) Poison/Ignitables (Chlorinated Solvents) Poison/Organic Acids PPE/Rags Mercury Debris Acids (Inorganic) Bases (Inorganic)

Generally Acceptable Bulk Used Oils Oils- Vacuum Pump, Motor, Brake Fluid Antifreeze- Ethylene Glycols Latex Paint Dilute Cleaning Solutions- Liquinox

Generally Unacceptable Bulk Used Oils RCRA Hazardous Wastes Flashpoints < 140 degrees pH < 2 or > 12 PCB Oils Resins Part A or B

Generally Acceptable Bulk Ignitables Non-Chlorinated Solvents- Acetone, Methanol, Xylene, Toluene, Acetonitrile Diethyl Ether/Tetrahydrofuran (No Peroxides) Mineral Spirits Oil Based Paints

Generally Unacceptable Bulk Ignitables Chlorinated Solvents- Methylene Chloride, Chloroform Chemicals with pH < 2 or >7 Oxidizers/Reducers- Nitrates/Sulfites Reactives- Water, Cyanide Explosives- Peroxides, TNT, Dinitrophenylhydrazine Flammable Solids

Generally Acceptable Bulk Poison/Ignitables Chlorinated/Non-Chlorinated Solvent Mixtures- Chloroform, Methylene Chloride, Acetone, Methanol, Xylene, Toluene, Diethyl Ether (No Peroxides) Phenol/Chloroform/Isoamyl Alcohol Mixtures

Generally Unacceptable Bulk Poison/Ignitables Chemicals with pH < 2 or >7 Oxidizers/Reducers- Nitrates/Sulfites Reactives- Water, Cyanides Explosives- Peroxides, TNT, Dintrophenylhydrazine Flammable Solids

Generally Acceptable Bulk Poison/Organic Acids Organic Acid Solutions Dilute Pesticides Dilute Acetic Acid Dilute Organic Solutions pH > 1.5 or pH < 9 Formaldehyde Solutions < 10% Organics with Trace Metals- No Mercury

Generally Unacceptable Bulk Poison/Organic Acids Flammable Solutions (Flashpoint < 200 degrees F) Oxidizers/Reducers- Nitrates/Sulfites Reactives- Water, Cyanides Explosives- Peroxides, TNT, Dinitrophenylhydrazine Toxic Solids Smelly Chemicals- Mercaptans Sodium Azide and Thimerosol, even as just preservatives

Generally Acceptable Bulk PPE/Rags Paint/Solvent Rags Lightly Contaminated Labware/Trash- Chloroform/Formaldehyde Tips Ethidium Bromide Gels Lightly Contaminated Bulking PPE/Rags (Non-Oxidizers) Organics with Trace Metals (No Mercury)

Generally Unacceptable Bulk PPE/Rags Spill Clean Ups of Strong Acids or Bases (Chemicals with pH<2 or pH>9) Oxidizers/Reducers- Nitrates/Sulfites Reactives- Water, Cyanides Explosives- Peroxides, TNT, Dintrophenylhydrazine Pure Flammable or Toxic Solids No Closed Container Labpack Items Smelly Chemicals- Mercaptans

Generally Acceptable Bulk Mercury Debris Elemental Mercury Spill Clean Up of Elemental Mercury PPE/Rags/Labware Contaminated with Elemental Mercury Mercury Thermometers/Monometers/Thermostats Small Amounts of Mercury Vacuum Dust

Generally Unacceptable Bulk Mercury Debris Mercury Compounds/Residues- Mercuric Chloride, Dimethyl Mercury Other RCRA Hazardous Wastes- Flammable, Corrosives, Toxics, Reactives Lead Pipes or Lead Weights Soil/Sand

Generally Acceptable Bulk Acids Dilute Inorganic/Non-Oxidizing Acids- Hydrochloric, Sulfuric, Phosphoric Low Level RCRA Metal Acidic Solutions (Except Mercury) Trace Non-Regulated Organics in Inorganic Acid Solutions (Dyes)

Generally Unacceptable Bulk Acids Oxidizers- Nitric Acid, Nitrates, Hydrogen Peroxide Flammables Bases Regulated Organics (LDR Organics- Phenol, Formaldehyde) Reactives Any Higher Concentration Organic Chemicals

Generally Acceptable Bulk Bases Dilute Inorganic Bases- Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Hydroxide Low Level RCRA Metal Basic Solutions (Except Mercury) Trace Non-Regulated Organics in Inorganic Base Solutions (Dyes)

Generally Unacceptable Bulk Bases Acids Oxidizers- Nitrates Ammonia Compounds- Ammines, Ammonium Hydroxide Flammables Regulated Organics (LDR Organics- Phenol, Formaldehyde) Reactives Any Higher Concentration Organic Chemicals

Would You Bulk the Following in Used Oils? Vacuum Pump Oil from modern lab equipment? Very old elevator oil? Isocyanate Resins?

Would You Bulk the Following in Ignitables? 50% Wash Acetone/50% Water? 50% Wash Acetone/49% Water/1% Chloroform? 99% Methanol/1% Silanes?

Would You Bulk the Following in Poisons/Ignitables? 25% Acetone, 25% Methanol, 25% Diethyl Ether, 25% Methylene Chloride? 75% Chloroform, 24% Phenol, 1% Isoamyl Alcohol? 40% Acetone, 10% Chloroform, 49% Water, 1% Sodium Hydroxide

Would You Bulk the Following in Poisons/Organic Acids? 15% Acetic Acid Solution? 15% Formic Acid Solution? Dilute Biochemistry Lab Chemicals with Sodium Azide preservative? 10% Round-Up Solution?

Would You Bulk the Following in PPE/Rags? Methanol Spill Clean Up Rags/Vermiculite? Sulfuric Acid Spill Clean Up Rags/Vermiculite? Chloroform contaminated plastic tips?

Would You Bulk the Following in Mercury Debris? Elemental Mercury Clean Up in Dirt Parking Lot? Broken Mercury Thermometer? Mercury Contaminated Piping?

Would You Bulk the Following in Acids? 10% Nitric Acid Solution? 10% Sulfuric Acid Solution? 10% Hydrochloric Acid, 10% Methanol, 80% Water?

Would You Bulk the Following in Bases? 10% Sodium Hydroxide Solution? 10% Ammonium Hydroxide Solution? 10% Sodium Hydroxide, 10% Hydrochloric Acid, 1% Phenolthalein, 79% Water?

Chemical Bulking Conclusion Know Your Waste Chemicals in Fine Detail! Do Not Cut Corners or Become Complacent Each Bulk is a “Step of Faith” Bulk “Slam Dunks or Lay Ups” Not “3-Pointers or Hail Mary’s”