Waste-minimization assessment for a manufacturer of chemicals. Environmental research brief
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has funded a pilot project to assist small- and medium-size manufacturers who want to minimize their generation of waste but who lack the expertise to do so. In an effort to assist these manufacturers, Waste Minimization Assessment Centers (WMACs) were established at selected universities and procedures were adapted from the EPA Waste Minimization Opportunity Assessment Manual (EPA/625/7-88/003, July 1988). The WMAC team at the University of Tennessee performed an assessment at a plant manufacturing acrylic emulsions, low molecular weight resins, herbicides, and specialty chemicals - approximately 300 million lb/yr. In general, monomers, additives, activators, and catalysts are metered and mixed in tanks then pumped sequentially into reactor vessels. Once the product is formed, the solution is pumped into a blend tank where more chemicals, such as binders, emulsifiers, and thickeners, are added. The team's report recommendations, indicated that the majority of waste was generated in the waste water treatment system and that the greatest savings could be obtained by installing a natural gas-fired dry-off oven in the waste water treatment system to reduce (by 81%) the amount of sludge removed to the landfill.
- Research Organization:
- University City Science Center, Philadelphia, PA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 7236596
- Report Number(s):
- PB-92-203595/XAB; CNN: EPA-R-814903
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Sponsored by Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH. Risk Reduction Engineering Lab
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
CHEMICAL INDUSTRY
WASTE MANAGEMENT
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
ADDITIVES
CATALYSTS
DRYERS
HERBICIDES
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
LAND POLLUTION
MANUALS
MANUFACTURERS
PROPIONIC ACID
RECOMMENDATIONS
RESINS
WASTE WATER
WATER POLLUTION
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
DOCUMENT TYPES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRY
LIQUID WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PESTICIDES
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLLUTION
POLYMERS
WASTES
WATER
540220* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540320 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)