Glycol, old glycol, lots of it too!

PJO_2

remember that most of this stuff may not only affect the biomass of the wastewater plant (pH is only one "bad" item of many), the majority of the constituents in the anti-freeze will not be taken in by the plant (through settling and/or biologic consuming). That means it will go all the way through to the receiving stream. Add a dose of chlorine to it on the way out, and you may (once again) change the chemical make-up of the pollutant. That doesn't make me feel comfortable.

Good point on the other "nasties" it may contain, HR.

Art's point of sampling before dumping is very good, and may work in many situations. The main point is to try and recycle it...I still say companies like Safety-Kleen are the way to go, then try other methods.

Take Care, PJO

JoeC

Glycol, old glycol, lots of it too!

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, is what I wish to remain. Was 'given' the job of demo'n a heating system (the whole building coming down). Problem is the darn system has about +300 gallons of propylene glycol type heat transfer fluid in it that was never really maintained, could only guess what else was added over the decades. The owners are pushing to dump it into the muni's system ("OH!, there's nothing toxic about the stuff"...so they say) I'm leaning toward my first thought of barrelling it all up and taking to a proper waste burn/disposal site. The little muni's treatment plant will glow red for a day or two if was dumped, it's also adjacent to the ocean, and I'm a paranoid type of guy. How are you guys State-side handling such jobs? Is there an EPA or other disposal type regulation for such material? Is it based on PH? Thanks Wall!

sootmonkey

joe

my buddy works as a jet mechanic. one of his jobs is to maintain the deiceing truck. this truck sprays 200 degree proprlean(sp) glycol on the planes. 1000 gals per treatment. runs off the tarmac, into the storm drain. portland maine.

kevin

so that why...

Casco bay has red tide! kpc

hot_rod

Recycle it

I have Safety Kleen handle all my "unknown" fluids. If you know it's glycol, check with the local Quik Lube or Mini Lube places. They collect and recycle antifreeze. Locally, they will take small quantities, if not contact the company they use to pick up yours.

Here in Springfield we have a glycol recycler. He picks up from car dealers and lube places. He filters, the runs it through RO equipment. It is then re-colored and buffered to various automotive specs.

Airport de-icing glycols generally run to bio ponds. After sitting several weeks it is safe to dump into sewer systems. Both PG and EG are readily biodegradable. Actually EG with 2 carbons breaks down faster than the PG,s.

Try www.Safetykleen.com or check with local glycol users for disposal options.

hot rod

Drew_2

Glycol

Joe, you're right. Not knowing what has be added in the past is the problem. It's best to talk with the local municipal sanitary sewer people and get their procedure. Both propylene and ethylene glycol will take oxygen from the water but will bio-degrade in a few days. Though ethylene is toxic to humans and animal if ingested be fore it bio-degrades. The inhibitors in these are usually phosphate based and should be less than 1% per volume of the total fluid.

Hope this helped
Drew

JoeC

Thanks for your inputs!

I thought that maybe I was getting into a 'sticky' situation(Ohhh), but as of this morning I found a recycler to take the stuff. Thanks again.

PJO_2

Way to go, Joe!

I'm in this discussion late, but let me tell you from experience that glycols and watewater plants are not a good combination. I know it's just so easy to dump it and forget it, but 1) It may go directly to a local stream,
2) If a decent quantity is dumped it will kill some of the biomass in the plant, and may cause an "upset"...leading to bigger problems, 3) It's getting easier and cheaper to dispose of it correctly. Safety Kleen has an excellent reputation of being convenient, thorough and affordable.

Thanks to HR and others who are responsible in this endeavor. I'll get off the soapbox now.

Take care, PJO

Art Pittaway

Contact the wastewater plant

Take them a sample and they will tell you if and how they can handle it. Our wastewater plant told me they can handle thousands of gallons ..if you dump it a few hundred at a time over a few days. The problem is it throws the PH off, so if it's dumped in small batches they can handle it. If they don't want it they will tell you but talk to the right guy.
Good Luck, Art

hot_rod

dumping food grade glycol

is one thing. But dumping a glycol that has been inhibited, burned, or contaminated with other chemicals is a completly different story.

Unless you know what EXACTLY is in the fluid you intend to dump down the drain, I would highly recommend against this practice. You may think you are dumping a realitivly safe product down the drain, but then again do you know the entire history?

Virtually every fluid has a recycle option. Makes much more sense than cracking another barrel of crude to replace glycol dumped down the sewer. After all we all live downstream

hot rod

Art Pittaway

Agreed Mr. ONeill,

Your and "HR's" point is well taken and true, recycleing is the first choice...period. But, I understand that Dow, Etc., etc., don't want it back and what does Safety-Kleen really do with the stuff you pay them to take away? I don't believe I have ever seen "Recycled Glycol" for sale. So, where does it really go, how is it disposed of, anyone know?
Soooo many questions...!
Art

PJO_2

Not sure, but...

I could an assortment of ultrafiltration/reverse osmosis used to take it back to a "normal(?)" state.

Another option may be acidification and/or very high pH, then many of the nasties become insoluble and drop out.

So many questions, and probably not an answer :-)

Take Care, PJO

Mad Dog

Yeah Alaska...Hot rod's suggestion is your safest bet

don't even think of doing that job your self - too many wackos out there ready to sue if you spill it on their shoe mad dog

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hot_rod

Sounds like you handled it, here is a list

of recyclers in Alaska. I imagine most States have a similar resource. I found this by entering glycol recyclers into my search box.

hot rod


http://info.dec.state.ak.us/sps/recycler.asp

Steamhead

Glycol is never an issue

if you have steam heat! (couldn't resist....)

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sootmonkey

nature killer

yeah, im a butt head. i talked to my friend the other day and confirmed what i said in my earlier post. 200 degree +/- propylene glycol is sprayed on the planes to de-ice them. it then runs to the storm drain. no holding tank/no seperator tank. law says you can do this, up to a certain number of gals. per year. portland maine jetport stays under this limit. my point is there are THOUSANDS of gals. of this stuff being sprayed/dumped at YOUR nearest airport every year, why worry? like i said im a butt head.