1. Bulking (Mixing) Chemicals

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

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

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

5. 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

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

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

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

9. Bulk in Level B PPE/Supplied Air

10. 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)

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

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

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

14. 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

15. 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

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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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)

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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)

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

25. 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)

26. 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

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

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

29. 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

30. 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?

31. 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?

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

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

34. 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?

35. 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”