Page 504 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

CAT3525_C14.qxd 1/27/2005 12:37 PM Page 475
Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility Requirements 475
in transit and during wetting by the fire department. An inspector was informed by the plant manager
that this formulation is water-reactive. The reaction with water is as follows:

AlP 3H O → Al(OH) PH 3(g)
2
3
The product, phosphine gas (PH ), is highly toxic.
3
The inspector walked over the facility to find several aluminum phosphide containers stored in
a large shed with a poor roof (water was dripping inside the building from melting snow).
The company manager made arrangements to repack the containers and transport them to a
friend’s farm field. There, it was planned, the fumigants would be reacted with water and allowed
to decompose. The remaining residue would be landfilled. The manager contends that such a prac-
tice is acceptable as the fumigant is a product and not a waste.

FIGURE A.14.2 Storage area
for bulk hazardous wastes.
Photo by Theresa M. Pichtel.