Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
regulation as hazardous. Many wastes in solid or nonliquid physical form (e.g.,
wood, paper) can also readily catch fire and sustain combustion, but they are not all
regulated by EPA. A solid waste is said to exhibit the characteristic of ignitability
if a representative sample of the waste has any of the following properties:
•
It is a liquid other than an aqueous solution containing less than 24% alcohol
by volume and has a flash point less than 60°C (140°F), as determined by a
Pensky-Martens Closed Cup Tester or a Setaflash Closed Cup Tester, or as
determined by an equivalent test method (40 CFR 260.11 and 260.20).
•
It is not a liquid and is capable, under standard temperature and pressure,
of causing fire through friction, absorption of moisture, or spontaneous
chemical changes and, when ignited, burns so vigorously and persistently
that it creates a hazard.
•
It is an ignitable, compressed gas.
•
It is a substance meeting the Department of Transportation's definition of
oxidizer.
The ignitable wastes are codified as D001 and are among the most common
hazardous wastes.
(b) Corrosivity
The corrosivity characteristic identifies wastes that are acidic or alkaline (basic) that
can readily corrode or dissolve flesh, metal, or other materials such as sulfuric acid
from automotive batteries and pickle liquor employed to clean steel during its
manufacturing. The EPA chose pH as an indicator of corrosivity because wastes
with high or low pH can react dangerously with other wastes or cause toxic con-
taminants to migrate from certain wastes. A solid waste that exhibits any of the
following properties is considered a hazardous waste due to its corrosivity:
•
It is an aqueous material with pH less than or equal to 2 or greater than
or equal to 12.5, as determined by a pH meter using the method described
in EPA Publication SW-846 incorporated by reference in 40 CFR 260.11.
•
It is a liquid and corrodes steel at a rate greater than 6.35mm (0.25 inch)
per year at a test temperature of 55°C (130°F) as determined by the test
method in EPA Publication SW-846.
Steel corrosion is used as a criteria because wastes capable of corroding steel
can escape from their containers and liberate other wastes. Physically solid, non-
aqueous wastes are not evaluated for corrosivity. A waste that exhibits the charac-
teristic of corrosivity is given an EPA hazardous waste number of D002.
(c) Reactivity
The reactivity characteristic refers to wastes that readily explode or undergo violent
reactions. Reactivity was chosen as a characteristic to identify unstable wastes that
can pose a problem at any stage of the waste management cycle, e.g., an explosion.
Examples of reactive wastes include water from TNT manufacturing operations,
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