From: David Roberts <droberts**At_Symbol_Here**DEPAUW.EDU>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Quick question for the group
Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2015 10:57:01 -0400
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: 4C4301F9-9FC4-48A9-9E02-9F4E0553696D**At_Symbol_Here**depauw.edu
In-Reply-To <067701d0af52$4a800f70$df802e50$**At_Symbol_Here**wcenvironmental.com>


So as a question, do you have somebody looking at the entire University waste processes? That is, does your physical plant use solvent washers and degreasers? I ask because you should think of how they manage and use those solvents. Do they recycle using safety clean or some service like that? Are you counting that in your total solvent/waste count for the University? I assume you of course are, but I‰??m just asking the question. Physical plant can sometimes be a huge generator of waste, making it impossible for you to get out of that status no matter what you do.

What is the process of using the hexane/ethyl acetate? Is it just for TLC or some sort of solvent recovery? I guess my question is if the solvents are clean or if they pick up other contaminants during the process. You can set up solvent stills (we had one for THF I recall), but there are processes of course for that. I would assume you could easily reclaim/reuse at least one of the solvents, thus minimizing your waste.

How close are you on the generator scale? That is, what would it take for you to go from LQG to SQG?

Good luck with this - I think it‰??s worthwhile to always evaluate your generator status and see if there is any way you could move to a lower status. That is never frowned upon by the EPA.

Dave

> On Jun 25, 2015, at 10:21 AM, Russ Phifer wrote:
>
> Jake ‰?? you should be able to distill and reuse the hexane and ethyl acetate. The boiling points are significantly different (68C and 77C) so they‰??ll come off separately. This is NOT illegal treatment, but the waste must be managed as hazardous UNTIL it has been reclaimed. As a large generator, you will need to run a batch at least once every 90 days. Anything that isn‰??t reclaimed will still be regulated as hazardous waste, including your still bottoms.
>
> Russ
> Russ Phifer
> WC Environmental, LLC
> 1085C Andrew Drive
> West Chester, PA 19380
> Fax 800-858-6273
> Cell - 610-322-0657
> rphifer**At_Symbol_Here**wcenvironmental.com
>
> P Please consider your environmental responsibility before printing this e-mail or any other document
>
>
>
> From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Jake Hernandez
> Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2015 5:53 PM
> To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
> Subject: [DCHAS-L] Quick question for the group
>
> Greetings,
> Our university just recently became a large quantity waste generator. We have been trying to find ways to reduce/reuse/recycle. One of our largest wastes is from the organic chemists. The waste in question is hexane/ethyl acetate. Has anyone heard of a way to separate these two and reuse them?
>
> Thank you,
>
> Jake Hernandez
> Safety Specilaist 2
> Lab Safety Division
> (210)458-5807 voice
> (210)336-9509 cell
> Jake.hernandez**At_Symbol_Here**utsa.edu
>
>
>

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