Environmental and Safety Aspects of Spent Hydroprocessing Catalysts - Spent Hydroprocessing Catalysts - page 97

regulations, i.e., Authorization-Dangerous-Road (ADR) code and International-
Maritime-Dangerous-Goods (IMDG) code [305] . The latter code covers shipping of spent
catalysts overseas, whereas the ADR applies to the road transportation within the EC.
The transboundary shipment of the RCRA hazardous waste, such as spent catalysts, must
follow the export notification procedures. This involves a notification describing the material,
mode of transportation, shipping company, regenerator/reclaimer, ports of exit and entry, and
other details. In the case of a US exporter, this notification is sent to the responsible authorities
in the receiving country through EPA and Department of International Affairs. The refiner can
only proceed with the spent catalyst shipment after approval from the government of receiving
country was granted. This also should ensure that the regenerator or reclaimer in the receiving
country are licensed and have necessary certifications as required by environmental
authorities.
Various countries may have their own regulations in effect. It is however believed that these
regulations are for most part in compliance with international laws and acts. For example, in
Canada, the transboundary shipment of spent hydroprocessing catalysts is controlled by the
regulations on the Export and Import of Hazardous Goods [306] . As expected, these
regulations are in line with the international codes established for similar purposes. The
regulations define the conditions that have to be fulfilled before spent catalysts can be
imported in, exported out or transited through country or a province. All parties involved are
required to notify appropriate authorities in advance, i.e., one year before the proposed
shipment. For shipments from a country, the generator/exporter has to complete the notice,
whereas the importer (e.g., recycler and disposer) is required to provide authorities with the
notice. In the case of shipment within the country, the notice should also be completed by the
carrier. Always, the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) has to accompany the shipment.
Because of hazardous characteristics, all safety precautions have to be taken during
transportation of the spent hydroprocessing catalyst. The method of packaging must prevent
contact with air and water as well as the leakage of gaseous and liquid constituents of
hazardous nature [306] . It is preferable that packaging is performed by companies with special
certification from the environmental authorities. The flammability and leachability
characteristics dictate that spent hydroprocessing catalysts cannot be shipped in supersacks or
in a bulk. The use of metal containers is the most suitable packaging method provided that they
have undergone tests for resistance to impact and tightness. Such tests, which are regulated by
United Nations texts, require appropriate labeling of containers [307] . The preference of
catalyst bins compared with drums for catalyst transportation has been noted [308] . The bin
can replace 10 regular 200 L drums. The former can contain up to 2000 kg of catalyst.
It was suggested that the self-heating nature and release of toxic material during transportation
can be minimized by the formation of an organic seal over the spent catalyst while in the
container [309] . The seal consists of a gelatinized starch. The shipment of fresh and