!;.;;, fl !'?: p,:l··~ j: lj f'-<1f.<•v' ';:\>f• !f-'ri!i,"\'\)''':'.1 1.1;.' 0""" \::;-' uIJ i US D 101.2:B 29/6 TREATf;O AIR TO ATMOSPHERE LOC!<~VVUt..,"J LiL.~ :·:;\,·; '/ UNiVERSITY AT BUFFALO MAR 11 1993 C;OCUIVlcf\JTS DEPOSITORYUBRARY0433 The U.S. Army has screened and evaluated alternatives to treat~ hazardous wastes in Basin F liquids at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, near Corrmerce City, Colorado. The contaminants of concern include organic compounds (including AIR byproducts of munitions and chemical warfare agent and pesticide manufacturing) and metals. After screening numerous alternatives, the Army chose the five most promising for detailedevaluation. As a prerequisite, all NOT TO SCALEfive alternatives had to meet all CONCEPTUALrelevant state and federal laws,including safety standards and air ELECTRIC MELlER FURNACE emissions controls. On-site and off-site a 1 ternatives were screened. In keeping with preferences in the Federal law for on-site treatment to avoid potential risks involved with transporting hazardous waste, it was assumed that the alternatives would be located on RMA property. This Fact Sheet which describes the Electric Melter Furnace is one in the series of five. To learn how the public can obtain more information about the Army's work at the Arsenal, please see the companion EPA Fact Sheet, Rocky Mountain Arsenal Basin F Directory. ~ ~ How It Works The electric melter furnace would operate at high temperatures--2,300 degrees F--to destroy organic compounds in Basin F 1 iquids. In the furnace (similar to a glass-. t ma~ing furnace), the organic ' compounds in Basin F liquids would be destroyed almost completely. The metals would form a molten salt that would float on top of the pool of glass which lines the bottom of the furnace. The molten salt would be removed from the furnace periodically, poured into forms, and cooled in preparation for final disposal. The electric melter furnace process takes place in a closed system. THE ElECTRIC HEllER FURNACE What Is Needed To operate an electric melter furnace, a facility would be built at the Arsena1 , and operat iona1 supP 1 i es would be brought in. The equipment and supplies needed are listed below: -The furnace Air pollution control equipment Associated piping. various heat exchangers. storage vesse1s. pumps. and fans A separate building of modest size (50 feet by 100 feet by 40 feet high) typically would be needed for a furnace of this type and related equipment. It would be built specifically to house the furnace and equipment. -8,100 cubic yards of pure liquid anhydrous anac>ni a per year: The ammonia would be hauled in to the Arsenal in·81 rail cars during the year. The ammonia is used to treat the furnace exhaust. 4,400 cubic yards of sodium hydroxide: This compound would be hauled in to the Arsenal in 44 rail cars during the year. ·· Sodium hydroxide is a caustic compound. Both the ammonia and the sodium hydroxide would be used in the air pollution control process. What Would Be Produced During and after the process, certain hazardous substances would be produced. The Army would handle these products (listed below) in the following ways: Gaseous e~~issions: The gases, which would include a mixture of oxides of nitrogen, would be passed through air pollution control devices. Exhaust gases released to the atmosphere from this process would meet government standards. To assure this, emissions would be continuously monitored. Air pollution equipment would include safeguards to shut down the process in case of malfunction. Salt and solids: These materials, containing metals, could be disposed 1n a hazardous waste landfill. TREATED AIR TO ATMOSPHERE Advantages and Disadvantages All five alternatives were evaluated against criteria established by the U.S. EPA. The five key criteria are described below: Reduction of Toxicity, Mobility, or Volume: The intent of this requirement is that the hazardous portions· of the wastes should be reduced or destroyed; the abi 1ity of the wastes to move through the : r{TMV) THE ElECTRIC HELlER FURNACE: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES The electric melter furnace has certain advantages and disadvantages, which are spelled out below. Criteria Reduction of Toxicity, Mobility, or • Yo1ume environment should be limited or halted; or the overall quantity of wastes containing hazardous materials should be reduced. Implementability: This requirement focuses on whether the alternative has been proven in other situations and is commercially available. Hini•ization of on-or off-site transport, and off-site disposal of ..hazardous material: To reduce the risk of traffic accidents involving hazardous materials, this factor seeks to limit the amount of wastes and the distance that the wastes would be transported, either on-or off-site. It also seeks to limit the practice of moving hazardous waste from one locality to another. Community protection: This factor focuses on protecting the community from hazards that may result during the remedy or afterwards. Reasonableness of cost: Finally, the costs, both of implementing the remedy. and subsequent operation and maintenance, are compared among alternatives. No alternative was considered unless it could meet all applicable or relevant and appropriateregulations. Implementability Minin;,,ization of on-site or off-site transport, off-site disposal of hazardous material Community protection Reasonableness of cost Discussion It is assumed that a minimum of 99.99 percent of volatile organic compounds wi 11 be destroyed. Meta1 s remain in the salt. Volume reduced to 10 percent of original volume of Basin F li~uids. Although this alternative was tested on Basin F li~uids, soils and liner materials, it is still to be tested for use on Basin F li~uids alone. Large ~uantities of ammonia needed will be shipped in and stored on-site, presenting some hazards. A small ~uantity of · salt containing metals would be shipped off-site and disposed, presenting some hazards which are not considered to be serious. There is a potential for off-site impact from release of ammonia stored on-site. Compared to the other alternatives, the electric melter furnace is in about the mid-range of costs. Item Estimated Cost (millions of$) Capital $10.2 Operation and Maintenance 10.9 ESTIMATED PROJECT TOTAL $21.1 .Q;J SUNY/BUFFALO UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 3 9072 01896341 7 ..