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Solvent Recycling in an Academic Research Laboratory

Solvent Recycling in an Academic Research Laboratory Steve Brehio Northeastern University Office of Environmental Health & Safety Boston, Massachusetts Northeastern University National research university located in Boston, Massachusetts World leader in practiced-orientated education

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Solvent Recycling in an Academic Research Laboratory

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  1. Solvent Recycling in an Academic Research Laboratory Steve Brehio Northeastern University Office of Environmental Health & Safety Boston, Massachusetts

  2. Northeastern University • National research university located in Boston, Massachusetts • World leader in practiced-orientated education • 24,500 students • 4,405 faculty and staff • Three suburban campuses including Marine Science Center • 41 academic buildings and 28 residence halls • 440 research and teaching laboratories RCRA National Conference

  3. Northeastern University RCRA National Conference

  4. Needs Determination New researcher was part of the reason for a huge spike in solvent waste in late 1998 and early 1999 from a glass washing operation: • Increased cost for hazardous waste disposal • Increased lab waste stream volume • Increased operations and scheduling problems • Increased accumulation and storage constraints • Needed to change to large quantity generator • Recycling opportunity RCRA National Conference

  5. Northeastern University: Hazardous Waste Generated LQG SQG RCRA National Conference

  6. Research Laboratory Synthetic organic chemistry research laboratory – five graduate students doing numerous column washes and rinsing tasks Generating 1,200 gal/yr (1999) acetone 720 gal (4,744 lbs) ethyl acetate 240 gal (1,581 lbs) hexane 240 gal (1,581 lbs) Opportunity to Recycle 50 to 80% acetone recycled in 2000 - 360 gal (2,371 lbs) acetone, ethyl acetate and hexane recycled in 2001 - 350 gal (2,306 lbs) Recycling Solvents RCRA National Conference

  7. Solvent Recycling System Options RCRA National Conference

  8. Unit Purchased for Synthetic Organic Chemistry Laboratory • Features: • No water hookup (air cool) • Gravity fill system to • eliminate open pouring • Automatic waste drain • Vapor recovery system • (activated charcoal filter) • Built-in spill containment • Internal safety switches RCRA National Conference

  9. Solvent Recycling System In Lab RCRA National Conference

  10. Solvent Recycling System – Inside View RCRA National Conference

  11. Basic Economics of Recycling • Initial Purchase : $15,750 (cost sharing with Chemistry Department) • Projected annual savings: $7,200 (waste disposal as lab pack) • Payback approximately 2 years • Savings will vary depending on disposal: lab pack, 5 gallon pail or 55 gallon drum • Other Savings: $3,000 annually not having to purchase new solvent RCRA National Conference

  12. Other Issues • Recycling permit • Initial fee and annual report • New labeling system • On-going maintenance • Manufacturer warranty (approximately $1000/yr) • Utility installation/operational cost • Continuity of compliance programs RCRA National Conference

  13. 2000-2001 Solvent Recycling System In Use Northeastern University: Hazardous Waste Generated LQG SQG RCRA National Conference

  14. 2000-2001 Solvent Recycling System In Use Northeastern University: Hazardous Waste Generated LQG SQG RCRA National Conference

  15. 2002 – What Happened? • Principal investigator on sabbatical leave for one year in England. • Main research group graduated and left University. • Some of the new graduate students moved into different laboratory and did not embrace use of solvent recycler. • EHS did not identify increased waste from new graduate students until later in 2002. • New synthetic organic chemistry research group on campus RCRA National Conference

  16. Conclusions Use of solvent recycling system in 2000 and 2001 resulted in the following: • Decreased cost for disposal (after two year payback) • Decreased lab waste stream volume • Decreased operations and scheduling problems • Decreased accumulation & storage constraints (main accumulation area serviced less frequently) • Returned to small quantity generator status • Recycling opportunity (waste recycled and savings on less frequent purchase of new product) RCRA National Conference

  17. Questions? "Christie Todd Whitman, who is head of the EPA, has announced she is resigning at the end of the month. President Bush was shocked. He didn't even know we had an Environmental Protection Agency. Do you know what the EPA is? Their job is to protect the environment from President Bush." - Jay Leno "The former governor of New Jersey and the head of the environmental protection agency, Christine Todd Whitman, has resigned. Did you hear about this? Two reasons: Bush felt she was too soft on decimating pristine wilderness, and she was too hung up on that breathable air issue." - David Letterman RCRA National Conference

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