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SCREENING PROTOCOL FOR ASSESSING TOXICITY OF ORGANIC CHEMICALS TOANAEROBIC PROCESSES
Citation:
Young, J. AND H. Tabak. SCREENING PROTOCOL FOR ASSESSING TOXICITY OF ORGANIC CHEMICALS TOANAEROBIC PROCESSES. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/D-90/133.
Description:
A screening protocol has been developed to provide a rapid andrepeatable assessment of the effect of toxic organic chemicals onanaerobic treatment processes. his protocol also providesinformation on the rate limiting biological reactions and theconcentrations at which changes in reaction rate take place. General features of the protocol include 1) relative ease of use,2) relatively short response time - days versus months, 3) lowlabor reguirements, 4) use of conventional laboratory techniqes, 5)reproducibility among laboratories, and 6) it builds on previouslydeveloped protocols and procedures. he screening protocolconsists of three steps: TEP I is a pre-screen to identify therange of toxic impact of a chemical; STEP II is a short-term batchtest to identify the effect of slug doses of chemical and to showwhich anaerobic reaction is inhibited first; STEP III is asemi-continuous culture test to identify the concentration at whichspecific inhibitory effects take place. he screening protocol isbeing used to assess the toxicity of RCRA/CERCLA compounds toanaerobic treatment processes and to compare the effects tochemical characteristics of these compounds. he results will helpto determine the potential for using anaerobic processes fortreating these and other toxic and hazardous chemicals.