Disposal of tetramethyl ammonium chloride

[greenone]

Has anyone had experience with treatment of TMAC to enable disposal to POTW? The waste is soluble in water, with a pH of 7. The waste is generated in batches of approximately 500 gallons over an 8 hr time span, and sent to a holding tank. TMAC concentration is approximately 5-6%.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[mdszj]

Before you dispose large quantities of this material (not sure how much you have) at a POTW you should check to make sure they can handle it without having a negative impact on their system. This is a cationic surfactant, which can be used as a biocide. If the POTW uses any bio treatment (activated sludge process, etc), introduction of a cationic material such as this may kill the bugs, or at least shock them badly. Or, depending if they do any aeration (again, a bug process or air stripping, etc), the surfactant nature of this stuff may cause a lot of foaming, which can be a nuisance and even cause pumps to lose prime or cavitate.

To summarize: check w/ the POTW before you dispose this material. You may have to investigate other disposal options.

 

[greenone]

Thanks for your input. We have already ahd some contact with the POTW. They are a 10MGD plant, so 500 gallons isn't a big impact. It's more a regulatory thing-the cost of hauling away as regulated waste is adding up.