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WASTE MINIMIZATION ASSESSMENT FOR A MANUFACTURER OF CHEMICALS
Citation:
Looby, G. AND P. Miller. WASTE MINIMIZATION ASSESSMENT FOR A MANUFACTURER OF CHEMICALS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/S-92/004.
Description:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has funded a pilot project to assist mall- and medium-size manufacturers who want to minimize their generation of waste but who lack the expertise to do so. n 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). he 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. n general, monomers, additives, activators, nd catalysts are metered and mixed in tanks then pumped sequentially into reactor vessels. nce the product is formed, the solution is pumped into a blend tank where more chemicals, such as binders, emulsifiers, and thickeners, are added. rom the blend tank the product s passed through filters for clump removal then pumped Into either storage tanks or drums or shipping. he team's report, detailing findings and recommendations, indicated that he 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 and fill.