Alternative Disposal method for Trichloroethylene

[dheegove]

Good day,

I am seeking an alternative disposal method for spent trichlorethylene. We currently dispose of trichloroethylene at a hazardous waste site in South Africa.

Does anyone one know of any industries that may be able to use spent trichloroethylene in their processes?

Thanking you in advance

 

[25362]

Following Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, about 80% of U.S. production of TCE is used in vapour degreasing of fabricated metal parts, and the remainder is equally divided between export and applications such as in PVC production.

 

[dheegove]

Thanks 25362 for the info. However in this case, the TCE has been used for the purposes of degreasing hence it contains oil, which classifies it as a hazardous waste. The current method of disposal is quite expensive. I am currently looking into the possibility of distillation in order to split the TCE and oil.

 

[25362]

It might work (BP: 87 deg C). Should try it out in the lab. Must be cautious: TCE is intrinsically toxic, primarily because of its anesthetic effect on the CNS. OSHA's TWA over an 8-h exposure: 100 ppm. Besides, it may decompose in air (+light) into HCl, CO, phosgene, and dichloroacetic acid, all of which are toxic and corrosive.

 

[moltenmetal]

I wouldn't worry about TCE "falling apart" into the decomposition products 25362 talked about unless your distillation apparatus has very high surface temperatures (or are on fire). As mentioned, TCE is a toxicant, so use it with caution. It causes serious groundwater contamination problems too- keep it contained and clean up any spills immediately! Don't count on evaporation to save you.

With the provisos above, TCE is a very effective degreasing solvent, without the flammability concern represented by non-chlorinated materials of similar solvent effectiveness. I'd recommend that you either send it to a solvent recycler for distillation/re-use, or you set yourselves up to do the same. The bottoms will still be chlorinated hazardous waste, which means big money for disposal- but the volume of waste will be greatly reduced. You'll have to run an economic analysis to see if it'll work out cheaper than what you're doing already, though.

 

[radwaste]

Look for a chlorinated solvent recycler. There are several in the US. Some even pick it up for free.

 

[saxon]

dheegrove, You"re still using trichlor? We bannned this stuff from our plants years ago due to disposal problems, carcinognic issues and fugitive VOC emissions issues. There are plenty of substitutes out on the market that are much more friendly from an environmental and health standpoint and can do the same job.

Try Safetykleen, they produce a premium grade 150 solvent (petroleum naptha) that doesn't contain the chlorine. It also has a high flash point that reduces the fugitive voc's. Great for Clean Air Act VOC reductions. As a matter of fact, when we switched, our fugitive VOC emissions dropped by approx. 1 ton per year.

Hope this helps.
saxon

 

[25362]

Visit

http://www.eurochlor.org/chlorsolvents/issues/issues1_2_2.htm

it may be of help.