Hazardous Waste Legislation & Treatment Flashcards

0
Q

Non-specific source wastes

A

*produced from different sources

  • various manufacturing & industrial processes
    • solvents or dioxin containing wastes
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1
Q

What are the 3 hazardous waste lists?

A
  1. Non-specific source wastes
  2. Source- specific wastes
  3. Discarded commercial products
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2
Q

Source- specific wastes

A

Wastes from specific industries

  • petroleum refining
  • pesticide manufacturing
  • iron and steel production
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3
Q

Discarded commercial products

A
  • Certain discarded pesticides

* Subject to more stringent regulation

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4
Q

4 characteristics that hazardous wastes exhibit

A

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

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5
Q

Ignitable (characteristic 1)

A

Substances that are easily ignited and burn vigorously and persistently

E.g. Waste oils and used solvents

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6
Q

Corrosive (characteristic 2)

A
  • Acids, bases
  • those capable of corroding metal containers
  • e.g. Battery acid
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7
Q

Reactive (characteristic 3)

A

-Wastes that are unstable (under “normal” conditions)

  • May cause explosions or toxic vapors when
    * heated
    * compressed
    * mixed with water
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8
Q

Toxic (characteristic 4)

A

Wastes that are harmful or fatal when ingested or absorbed

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9
Q

Thermal destruction examples

A
  • Incineration (popular technology)

- Pyrolysis

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10
Q

Pyrolysis

A

Chemical decomposition of waste by heating in the absence of oxygen

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11
Q

Fixation/ stabilization

A

Involves removal of excess water from a waste and solidifying the remainder

-e.g. Mixing it with a stabilizing agent

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12
Q

Physical processes

A
  • Sedimentation
  • Aeration
  • Adsorption
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13
Q

Sedimentation (physical process 1)

A

Separates solids from liquids

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14
Q

Aeration (physical process 2)

A

Removes volatile chemicals from solutions

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15
Q

Adsorption (physical process 3)

A

Using activated carbon

 *Common method: use granular activated      
    carbon (GAC) 
 *High surface area , organics absorb to 
    surface
 *GAC can be regenerated by heat or used a 
    solvent to remove organics
16
Q

Chemical processes

A
  • Neutralization

* Chemical precipitation

17
Q

Neutralization (chem process 1)

A

Changing pH to an acceptable level

18
Q

Chemical precipitation (chem process 2)

A

Precipitates can be less soluble (removed by settling or filtration)

19
Q

Biological processes

A
  • Using microorganisms to degrade wastes

* Highly dependent on waste & microorganism

20
Q

CERCLA (passed in 1980 by congress)

A

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Composition & Liability Act

21
Q

CERCLA (cont.)

A
  • Known as the Superfund Lund

* Addresses already contaminated sites

22
Q

CERCLA involves…

A
  • Identifying hazardous waste sites
  • Preparing cleanup plans
  • Forcing responsible parties to pay for the remediation
23
Q

Superfund Remedial Process

A
  • Site discovery
  • NPL (National Priority List) ranking & listing
  • Remedial investigation &feasibility study
  • Record of decision
  • Remedial design
  • Remedial action
24
Q

RCRA (Resource Conservation & Recovery Act

A

Hazardous wastes are regulated within Subtitle C of RCRA

25
Q

Difference between CERCLA and RCRA

A
  • CERCLA: Previous hazardous waste problems

* RCRA: Prevention of future problems

26
Q

RCRA regulates what?

A
  • generation
  • storage
  • transportation
  • treatment & disposal of hazardous substances
27
Q

RCRA key concept

A
  • wastes are managed from when they are generated until their ultimate disposal
  • “cradle-to-grave” approach
28
Q

Tracking System

A

Paper trail documenting the waste’s progress through through treatment storage and disposal

29
Q

TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act)

A
  • act for the management of hazardous materials
  • similar to RCRA
  • concerns the current use and disposal of waste
30
Q

Difference between TSCA and RCRA

A
  • TSCA concerns individual, specific chemicals

* RCRA generally deals with combination of chemicals contained in waste streams