Waste Analysis of Oil Absorbent

Waste Oil Absorbent Summary

For the most part, oil absorbent was non-hazardous. The one sample that had a hazardous test result was due to the presence of benzene likely from fuel contamination from a spill event. Re-sampling is warranted to produce a more representative sample. In all other 56 cases no toxins were detected above the regulatory threshold. However, the presence of toxins at any level could be construed as reason to continue TCLP testing at each facility.

Waste Oil Absorbent TCLP Test Results Summary

Heavy Metals:

Arsenic...................................................................................................... Detected at low levels in four cases.
Barium............................................................................................. .Detected at very low levels in most cases.

Cadmium.................................................................................... Detected at low levels in 30% of the samples.

Chromium................................................................................................... Detected at low levels in ten cases.

Lead.................................................................................. Detected in 1/3 of the samples below the threshold.

Mercury............................................................................................................. Not detected in oil absorbent.

Selenium............................................................................................................. Not detected in oil absorbent.

Silver.................................................................................................................. Not detected in oil absorbent.

VOCs:

Benzene.................................................................................... Detected in 6 samples one that was hazardous.

Methyl Ethyl Ketone.............................................................................. Detected at very low levels in 5 cases.

Carbon Tetrachloride.......................................................................................... Not detected in oil absorbent.

Chlorobenzene................................................................................................... Not detected in oil absorbent.

Chloroform......................................................................................................... Not detected in oil absorbent.

1,2-Dichloroethane............................................................................................. Not detected in oil absorbent.

1,1-Dichloroethene............................................................................................. Not detected in oil absorbent.

Tetrachloroethene Detected at low levels in 4 cases.

Trichloroethene Detected at low levels in 1 case.

Vinyl Chloride Not detected in oil absorbent.

Sump Sludge Summary

In the data set the sites determined to have hazardous sump sludge were those that tested positive for the presence of Tetrachloroethene above the regulatory limit. In all cases those shops were using chlorinated brake cleaner, often as a general cleaning agent, and the toxin was also often present in their antifreeze. In one case a shop that had Tetrachloroethene above the regulatory threshold also tested positive for Trichloroethene.

The presence of toxins at any level could be construed as reason to continue TCLP testing at each facility.

Sue Schauls

Program Manager

Iowa Waste Reduction Center

University of Northern Iowa

Suite 113, BCS Building

Cedar Falls, Iowa 50614-0185

319/273-6592 (direct line)

319/273-8905 (office)