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Report on Pcb / Mercury Separation Process

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Report on Pcb / Mercury Separation Process SDI\/1S Document Yo-uTv-G STOCXI-1 & BOAVB ATIORHCYS AT LAW £JCECUTIVE WOODS 103330 I Two PALISADES DBIVIE im AuBANY, NEW YORK 12205I •' * •,•••:':'',•;'••.•;.'.;•"•••'••;•••; •••.;'":•"'::• ,i,^i ^;-H^i^;^^•^•:^^ .;V"; " TELEPHONE: (Sie) 43e-«»07.; Rudolph S. Perez//Es<^.;. ,0ffice-of Regional;;Counsel Re: In re Mercurv Refining Co..(Docket #II-TSCA-PCB-92-0239) Gentlemen: Pursuant to the Order on Consent in the above-referenced matter, enclosed please find Mercury Refining Company's Report on PCB/Mercury Separation Process as required by Paragraph 4 of the Order on Consent. Very truly yours. ohn P. Stockli, Jr. Enclosure cc: John Reagan (w/out enc) 031602.nd 700290 MERCURY REFINING COMPANT REPORT ON PCB/MERCURY SEPARATION PROCESS In the matter of Mercury Refining Company, Inc. Docket No. II TSCA PCB-92-0239 • 700291 INTRODUCTION This report describes the oil and grease/mercury separation procedure designed by Mercury Refining Company, Inc. ("MERECO") to remove mercury from PCB-containing oil and grease ("retort liquid"). This process is necessary to reclaim mercury from the retort liquid, thus reducing mercury levels to a concentration that is acceptable for incineration at an off-site"treetment-storage end disposal facility.^ In accordance with the Order on Consent executed in the above-referenced matter, MERECO submits this written report requesting Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") approval for this process. MERECO's experimental processing of this material in the manner described below has resulted in adequate separation of the mercury from the oil and grease. MERECO is confident that this procedure will be conducted safely and efficiently. Project Background Close examination of the PCB-containing oil and grease reveals droplets of mercury clinging to the material. The concentration of mercury in this material is between 260 ppm and 1,200 ppm. During experimentation, MERECO observed that introducing ^ne oil and grease to hot water causes the grease to liquefy and!'^ release the mercury droplets. Due to the high specific gravity of mercury (13.59) and the insolubility of mercury in water, the droplets quickly fall and collect at the bottom of the container. Analytical results of the oil and grease layer after mercury separation have shown the concentration of mercury in the grease at 146 ppm or less. The analytical data for this material is presented as Attachment I. Analytical results of the water phase during this experiment were all "non-detect" for PCBs. The analytical results for the water samples are shown as Attachment II. Process Description The oil and grease/mercury separation process will be conducted on-site and take place in the same containers that are utilized for the accumulation and storage of the PCB material. The separation procedure will be conducted in the Material Transfer Booth (MTB) and all testing and separation processes contained under a dedicated drum hood system The hood ventilation system is designed to remove organic and mercury vapors via dual carbon and HEPA filtration. The MTB is located within the Phase I As MERECO has previously indicated during the course of this proceeding, due to the current levels of mercury in the retort liquid, commercial disposal facilities have refused to accept the materials for disposal unless MERECO conducts a separation process. 700292 -2- building. The Phase I building is equipped with a secondary containment dike and a recirculating carbon filtration air ventilation system to prevent the release ,^f -cont^iminants to the environment. Because the separation process will be conducted one drum at a time, potential for any significant releases is further minimized. The drum hood system consists of one 55-gallon 17-H open-head drum with hood, an immersion heater, and two product transfer ports. One product transfer port is located near the bottom of the drum and the second is located approximately half way down fron> the top of the drum. A schematic of the drum hood system is shown on' Figure 1. The drum will be filled with water up to the level of the upper transfer port. The water will be heated via the immersion heater to a temperature slightly below the boiling point. Oil and grease will then be introduced into the drum forming a layer above the upper transfer port. Sufficient time is allowed for all the grease to thin and release the mercury droplets. The upper transfer port will then be opened to allow the oil and grease phase to gravity feed into a dedicated drum with a poly liner. Samples will be collected from this material for total mercury analysis to verify acceptance for incineration of the waste at <7JIfiIILi<^'^^ Wastfa ManagpjTnfn-i-y s Treatn-:ent, Storage and Disposal facility in Po;rt Art.hm-^ Tpxas. Mercury,'' that has settled from the emulsion will be recovered, purified and recycled, thus greatly reducing the amount of mercury ultiT.ately sent for disposal. Sajnples will be collected from the water layer for total mercury analysis. Water with mercury concentrations of 26 ppm or less will be transported to Dupont in Deepwater, New Jersey for disposal. '^^-i _ MERECO believes this process will safely and effectively facilitate the final disposition of the PCB waste. Project Schedule This project will be conducted within 180 days after the effective date of EPA approval for this process. 022201.nd 700293 r i jK Nonn f-Esn Slreei y^vdirondack Albany, Ne-/v York 12207 = r>v«T:nmenij) S«r>'ce5. Inc. 516-13^-45^6/434-0891 FAX A lull servicE analytical research laboratory oflering solutions lo environinental conctms a.lENT: "Mercury'Refitiiiig Company Oat-e Sampied: -' -.08/13/92 CLIEiNT'S SA^[PLE ID: 92058 Date sample received: 08/1A/92 A£S sample S: 92081A J02 Samples taken by: R.L./B-W. Location: Albany NY MATRIX: Solid Sample grab PAR.'^WETER PERFORMED METHOD RESULT UNITS NOTEBK REF TEST DAT Mercury EPA-7471 146 ug/g SM-FAC-45 08/28/9 700294 rage SI-: Nonr, PES/I Sifee; y^vdirondack Albanv. Ne-A York 12207 518-434-J546/434-0891 FAX A lull sendee analytical rtsearcti laboratory oflering solutions lo environmental concerns CHAIN OF CUSTODY RECORD C-:tM"r .NAME SAMPLERS' (N«n.<| /^-^uu*'^ ^jL/y^ycLcy-o 3- U/ACS^'^^*^-. «OOPCSS -no PO Nuween lUlD i^n.yyy a^ ^ TME SAMPt^rrPE NUMeEfl AES CLIE.'JT Aaajn. OF SAMPLE NUUBCP SAMPtE lOE-VTlFICJTlOW 1 LOCXTION SAMPtfO P.pjn. CXJNT-S ANALYSIS REQUIRED H c V.D51 / is^^ ct^-^^^ sinn^kl jmk ehh^ 7<^5. tM 4 f crrjit_~i4^ ^5 9^0 ski± L 1 f tHA L. HD. I * 6 Turnaround Time Laboratory Approval: KelinqtrSped by: fs;qn«i.-««y / / / Received by: fSJ9n.b.r.j Date/Time 'relinquished by: .s;snjiar.) Received by: {Si,n*u«m) Date/Time Relinquished by: ;s.«r..iur.( Received by: rs^Mcuraj Date/Time Dispatched by: .s;jn.:u,., Date/Time.-—-Seceived for Laboratocv by j Date/Time V Method of Shipment: SfijvcTTieport To: Client Phone No. The LaDoratory reserves ^he rignt :o return fiazaroous samples to the client or may levy a lee ol SIC 00 per container for disposal. WHITE - Lab Copy ELLOW - Sampler Copy PINK - GenercXr Copy 700295 ATTACHMENT II 700296 314 iS'onfi Pjsri Siiee; Albsny. New Yorv 12207 518-434-4546/434-0891 FAX A lull service analytical researtti laboratory oflering solutions to environmental concents CLIENT: Mercury Refining Company Date Sanpled: 07/30/93 CLiZNT''S' S>r^Ll ID: ''SSllO Date sarrple received:- 07/30/93 AES sancle S: 930730AP01 Samples taken by: Kevin Allen Location: Albany NY MATRIX: liouid waste grab P.^Ri'i^ETER PERFORMED METOOD RESULT. UNITS NOTEBK REF TEST DATE PCS EPA-8080 KF-PCB-M44 08/02/93 Mercury EPA-245.1 13.0 ug/g PW-FAH-39 08/02/93 Page iraiffiny^if^o^SciS 700297 31- Nonh Ps2r! Siiee'. 'y^dirondsck Albany. NP-.V Yoik 122K 518-434-4546/434-0891 W A lull service analytical research laboratory ottering solutions lo environmental concerns CHAIN OF CUSTODY RECORD CUCNT NAME OJEC7 KAME fLot^lonl . SAMPLERS' (H«m.tl nb ey^laZcl Ave po NUMBEA/Uo^t\A-R / 17110 •PLfBfrp^Slfln.lurel \ y^ *^>/ lUlD ^ TME SAMPLE TYPE NUMBER AES CLIENT DATE Asajn. OF SAMPLE NUMBER SAMPLE lOENTIFK SAMPLED P«p.m. CONT-S ANALYSIS REOUIREO £L o { rgi;^(_fU iTcnjyplB V051 ^K^^ :fr.^^.^ ' S/nk^ I/^C in. T I &<y'^yi»/yy^ ^//^/ff "V 5ct(rj 4 I crrj^i_ ^{/t*--o^^ Ls^, f- u W037/ Sai.j?/3oU Czxks- skUi 1 9?uc t^ loT^i. / • I'! IH- I Tumarouriround Time Laboratory Approval: Reiin d by: ,iiin.n,M; I ) \ Received by: (si^nMuf,, Date/Time l^ Relinquished by: •s:<:n,:! Received by: (sitn.fwi Date/Time Relinquished by: ,s.tr. Received by: rsJcMw*/ Date/Time Dispatched by: is;sr. Date/Time. ^—p-Gecetved ?or Laboratory by Date/Time L 'j^^ypzjy.y dy\\H: ) Method of Shioment: 5«»<*^eport To: Client Phone No.: The l_aboratory reserves 'she rignt to return haiarrious samples to the client or may levy a tee ot S10 00 per container lor disposal. •A'Hi.r • --2= Cccw YELLOW . Sampler Copy PINK - Generator Copy 700298 5T Nionri Pssri Siteei y^-^ d i r o n d a c k .Albsny, NcA- Yor/ 12207 516-434-4546/434-0891 FAX A lull service analytical researcJi laboratory oflering solutions lo environmenul concerns -CLIENi: Mercury Refining Company Date Sampled: 08/13/92 CLIENT'S SAMPLE ID: 92057 Date sample received: 08/14/92 .AiS ssmple =>: 92081^ JOl Samples taken by: R.L./B.W. Location: Albany NY MATRIX: liquid waste grab P.^JL^-YZTZR PERFOR.MED METHOD RESULT UNITS NOTEBK REP TEST DAT PC3 EPA-8080 <2 ug/g KS-L-7 08/27/9 EPA-7471 0.33 ug/g SM-FAC-45 08/2S/9 700299 Page 314 Nonr, her.
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