CHARACTERISTICS OF HAZARDOUS WASTES
CHARACTERISTICS OF HAZARDOUS WASTES The Environmental Protection Agency of America (EPA) defines the characteristics of hazardous waste as: 1. IGNITABILITY: The waste that explodes with the application of fire, electricity spark, or any source of heat; wastes with high ignitable potential or which burn vigorously and persistently. Such waste has a flash point of less than 600C. Examples of these types of wastes are :- solvent washes, waste oil, alcohols, aldehydes, paint wastes, petroleum wastes, cleaning solvents, etc. 2.CORROSIVITY: It is the ability of the waste to cause skin and mucosal membrane damage, burns and erosions and dissolve or corrode metallic surfaces. Such wastes have pH value of 2.512.5 at normal room temperatures (250 C). The corrosion rate for material damage is at 0.625 meters per year at 550 C. Examples: acid sludge, battery acid wastes, caustic wastewater, alkaline cleaning wastes, rust remover waste, etc. 3.REA...