From: "Bell,Martin" <mwb32**At_Symbol_Here**drexel.edu>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Hydrofluoric acid solution neutralization...
Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2016 12:20:27 +0000
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: 9CA5A22F-4457-4755-B633-C6B5DE0EBB1A**At_Symbol_Here**drexel.edu
In-Reply-To <054d01d18bc4$30b27e30$92177a90$**At_Symbol_Here**endeavourehs.com>


Hydrofluoric acid is actually a U listed waste with two classifications (toxic and corrosive). The waste code is U134. You can review the code at https://www3.epa.gov/epawaste/inforesources/data/br91/na_apb-p.pdf






From: DCHAS-L Discussion List <dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**med.cornell.edu> on behalf of Dave Einolf <dave**At_Symbol_Here**ENDEAVOUREHS.COM>
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Date: Thursday, March 31, 2016 at 11:11 PM
To: "DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU" <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Hydrofluoric acid solution neutralization...

Hydrofluoric acid in not considered as a RCRA Toxic ( e.g., it is not D-listed).  Being a fluorine compound doesn't make it toxic (I brush my teeth with a fluoride compound).  It can be neutralized under RCRA.  As was pointed out,  the issue would be then, what do you do with the liquid which has residual fluorine.  Would need to meet your wastewater standard. 

 

Dave

 

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**med.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Bell,Martin
Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2016 8:28 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Hydrofluoric acid solution neutralization...

 

It is my understanding that this would not qualify since the hydrofluoric acid is classified as toxic and corrosive. Elementary neutralization can only be performed on wastes that exhibit the corrosivity characteristic. 

 

A good source for treatment methodologies is Margaret-Ann Armour's book called "Hazardous Laboratory Chemical Disposal Guide". 

 

Martin 

 

 

Martin W. Bell, M.S. CIH CSP 

Director, Environmental Compliance

Department of Environmental Health and Safety

 

Drexel University

400 North 31st Street

Philadelphia, PA 19104

Tel: 215.895.5892 | Fax: 215.895.5926

Mobile: 215-778-4278

drexel..edu/facilities/healthsafety

 

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List <dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**med.cornell.edu> on behalf of "Cieslinski, Gerald B" <gcieslin**At_Symbol_Here**TULANE.EDU>
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Date: Wednesday, March 30, 2016 at 6:54 PM
To: "DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU" <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Hydrofluoric acid solution neutralization...

 

We have a new project that is generating around 10 gallons of an aqueous solution per week consisting of <1% of hydrofluoric acid and nitric acid that is being collected and disposed of as hazardous waste. The PI wants to know if he can neutralize this solution and dispose as wastewater. There are two issues at play:

 

=B7        Does this waste qualify under the exemption to treat hazardous waste without a permit? The waste is hazardous because of its corrosivity (D002), and is listed as U134. But does the toxicity of the hydrofluoric acid, even at these very low concentrations, disqualify it from the treatment exemption?

=B7        If it can be treated, is there a widely accepted methodology for neutralization? I have seen multiple procedures either using calcium chloride solutions to bind the fluorine then flocculate into a cake for later disposal, or using sodium bicarbonate solutions for pH neutralization.

 

Regards,

 

G. Benjamin Cieslinski, EH&S Specialist III

Tulane University, Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS)

Mailing: 1430 Tulane Avenue $8480, New Orleans, LA 70112-2699

Office: 1440 Canal St. Suite 1156

Direct: (504) 988.3996

Cell: (504) 491.5122

 

For non-emergency OEHS assistance, please go to OEHS Help Desk

=A9Confidentiality Notice: The documents accompanying this transmission contain confidential privileged information. The information is the property of the sender and intended only for use by the individual or entity named above. The recipient of this information is prohibited from disclosing the contents of the information to another party. If you are neither the intended recipient or the employee or agent responsible for delivery to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that disclosure of contents in any manner is strictly prohibited. Please notify G. Benjamin Cieslinskiat Tulane University by calling 504.988.3996 immediately if you received this information in error.

 

 

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