Page 407 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

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378 Waste Management Practices: Municipal, Hazardous, and Industrial
Examples of commercial chemical product hazardous wastes include products from hospitals
(e.g., pharmaceuticals past their expiration date, and unused reagents), research laboratories (expired
or unused reagents intended for disposal), photography laboratories, and analytical laboratories. These
items become hazardous waste when it is decided that they must be disposed. Some products, how-
ever, can be tested in order to determine if their expiration date can be extended. If there is another use
for the material, it can be stored or used for that purpose without being classified as a hazardous waste.

11.3.5 THE CHARACTERISTIC TESTS
New chemical products are regularly available. As a result, new types of wastes are being produced
as well. Since many wastes are chemical newcomers, they will obviously not be found listed in the
Code of Federal Regulations. Other methods are needed to determine potential hazards of a waste.
The U.S. EPA has established the four so-called ‘characteristic tests’ to determine whether or not a
waste is hazardous.

11.3.6 IGNITABILITY

The ignitability characteristic indicates those wastes that pose a fire hazard during routine handling,
for example, storage, transport, processing, or disposal. Specifically, a solid waste exhibits the char-
acteristic of ignitability if a sample possesses any of the following properties (40 CFR Part 261.21):

● It is a liquid, other than an aqueous solution, containing less than 24% alcohol (by vol.)
and has flash point less than 60°C (140°F), as determined by a Pensky–Martens Closed
Cup Tester (U.S. EPA, 1986; ASTM Standard D-93-79 or D-93-80) or a Setaflash Closed
Cup Tester (ASTM Standard D-3278-78).
● It is not a liquid and is capable, under standard temperature and pressure, of causing fire
through friction, absorption of moisture or spontaneous chemical changes, and, when
ignited, burns so vigorously and persistently that it creates a hazard.
● It is an ignitable compressed gas as defined in 49 CFR 173.300.
● It is an oxidizer as defined in 49 CFR 173.151.

Examples of characteristic (D-list) hazardous wastes include:

● Solvents used for parts cleaning or degreasing
● Paint thinners and paint removing compounds
● Carbon remover and nail polish remover solutions
● Organic-solvent-based wheel strippers

A solid waste that exhibits the characteristic of ignitability is given the EPA hazardous waste
number D001.

11.3.7 CORROSIVITY
Corrosive wastes occur at extremes in pH. Wastes with very low or high pH values can corrode stan-
dard drums, oxidize skin and other living tissue, and mobilize components from certain wastes.
Examples of corrosive wastes include acid wastes and alkali wastes. A solid waste exhibits the char-
acteristic of corrosivity if a sample has either of the following properties (40 CFR Part 261.22):

● It is aqueous and has a pH 2 or 12.5 as determined by a pH meter (Method 9040,
U.S. EPA, 1986).
● It is a liquid and corrodes steel at a rate greater than 6.35 mm (0.25 in.) per year and at
a temperature of 55°C (130°F) as determined by the test method specified in the National