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RE: Thymerasol Filtering
Pennsylvania DEP had a Governor's Award Winner in 1994--Merck &
Company--which was able to eliminate the use of 450,000 pounds annually
(90%) of their thimerosal through process changes, modification of
production planning and better coordination of waste management
practices. They also used the thimerosal as a biocide in vaccine
manufacturing.
I don't know how much of their information is proprietary (sp?), but it
seems that elimininating the thimerosal use at the source would be
better than trying to play around with it later. The Merck Facility is
in West Point, Pa, and their P2 coordinator can be reached at
215-652-6344.
Georgia Kagle
PADEP Haz. Waste Program
717 787-6239
Kagle.Georgia@a1.dep.state.pa.us
> ----------
> From: Timothy S O'Neill[SMTP:tsoneill@iastate.edu]
> Reply To: p2tech
> Sent: Friday, January 09, 1998 9:38 AM
> To: p2tech
> Subject: Thymerasol Filtering
>
> Hello.
>
> My name is Tim O'Neill and I am a graduate assistant at the Industrial
>
> Assessment Center at Iowa State University. We are currently in the
> process of performing an audit an animal vaccine company in our region
>
> and we have come up against a problem which involves the disposal of a
>
> hazardous chemical.
>
> Here is a description of the problem:
>
> Currently the vaccine company has a policy to buy back any vaccine
> which
> goes past the expiration date while in the possession of a customer.
> This vaccine, upon being received back at the facility, must be
> disposed
> of. A large portion of these vaccines contain a chemical called
> "Thymerasol," a mercury based preservative, as an ingredient. Because
>
> of this mercury content, the returned material must be disposed of as
> hazardous waste.
>
> The current method of disposal consists of throwing the individual
> vials
> of vaccine, container and all, into 55-gallon drums which are in turn
> taken off-site by a haz. waste disposal firm (this waste stream
> totalled
> 9,600 gallons in 1996, at a cost of $600/55-gallon drum).
>
> We were wondering if there exists any type of a filtering system
> (activated carbon, ion exchange, etc.) which would be able to handle
> this
> type of application. Another alternative which may exist would be to
> somehow separate and recover the mercury itself. For example, is
> there
> some way to cause the mercury to separate and percipitate out of the
> solution?
>
> Also, would someone be willing to give me a rough estimate on what
> such
> a system--if it exists--would cost?
>
> I thank everyone in advance for your help. If you need any more
> information, feel free to email or call me here at the office
> (515.294.0079).
>
>
> Tim O'Neill
> Industrial Assessment Center
> Iowa State University
>