Waste minimization handling

When one takes the cost of industrial compliance with RCRA to handle currently generated wastes and adds the cost of Superfund to clean up the wastes of the past, it becomes obvious that there are strong incentives for technology development in the area of waste minimization and treatment, and many opportunities for research and employment for chemical engineers. 

Safer than baseline technology because stabilization prior to retrieval agglomerates the contaminants and strengthens the excavated wastes, minimizing waste handling concerns. 

Improved waste minimization, documentation, and handling are needed. This is self-evident, with numerous examples of "past sins" in the literature when this was not done. 

Can minimize waste if handling low solids feed wliere cartridge disposal is Infrequent... 

Sample disposal options depend on the sample type and size. Liquid samples are mostly consumed during the analytical process and require minimal handling as waste. Sample residue should be archived in case re-analysis is required. When the sample results are validated and the client authorizes disposal, the sample residue is discharged to the holding tank. 

A key theme of this chapter is the reutilization of chemicals via available disposition routes. Any surplus chemicals still remaining at the end of the disposition cycle may re-enter it or be subject to final disposal as solid waste. Exceptions include chemicals that qualify for recycling and recovery (e.g., precious metals, ethylene glycol, anti-ffeeze solutions) or can be classified as Universal waste (see def.) under applicable environmental regulations. These pollution prevention and waste-minimization activities are covered in Chapter 7 ( Pollution Prevention and Waste Minimization ). However, requirements related to waste operations, such as the identification, storage, handling, transportation, treatment and disposal of waste fall outside the scope of the present chapter on chemical disposition. 

The objective of this paper is applying the multi-objective based analysis for the process synthesis with wastes minimization. A step-by-step systematic approach is proposed to ensure the reduction or elimination of the conflicts with regards to the waste handling and multi-objective synthesis. The pollution prevention alternatives are identified and the superstructure aimed at wastes minimization is formulated for the further mathematical optimisation. A case study, air-based direct oxidation process for the production of ethylene oxide, is presented for the illustration of the proposed approach. 

Even with waste minimization, however, filtration will usually produce some material that requires disposal. Proper handling requires the following ... 

A critical part of the regnlation is to rednce and, where possible, eliminate the generation of hazardons waste. Waste minimization was specifically mandated in the 1984 Hazardous and Solid Wastes Amendments to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. This has had an enormous impact on the way waste is handled by printed circuit board facilities. Prevention of pollution has become the overriding goal in design with recycle and reuse technologies implemented only where pollution prevention is not feasible for technical and/or economic reasons. Chemical treatment of wastes should be utilized only where no other options exist. 

Cheremisinoff, N. P. 2003. Handbook of Solid Waste Management and Waste Minimization Technologies. Boston, MA Butterworth-Heinemann. An essential tool for plant managers, process engineers, environmental consultants, and site remediation specialists that focuses on practices for handling a broad range of industrial solid waste problans and presents information on waste minimization practices. Included in the text are sidebar discussions, questions for consideration and discussion, recommended resources (print and Web) for the reader, and a comprehensive glossary. 

Armed with the PFS and the questions for the various process options the team can then discuss the most appropriate way forward. For example considering question 2, production staff may comment that this particular plant only runs on the day shift, so a 10-hour reaction is not viable the chemical engineer may conclude that the problem is likely to be one of mass transfer, and other reactor design options such as a spinning disc reactor should be considered. The SHE advisor may comment that not only is solvent 1 volatile but it is also moderately harmful and would require specialist handling equipment, hence it is very important to find an alternative. As waste minimization starts at the reaction stage it is critical to study this area in particular detail. Questions that can be asked include ... 

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