United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Hazardous Waste Engineering
Research Laboratory
Cincinnati OH 45268
Research and Development
EPA/600/S2-87/019 June 1987
SERA Project Summary
Evaluation of Thirteen Spill
Response Technologies
Mark L Evans and Holly A. Carroll
The primary goal of this project
was to inform potential users and
manufacturers of the existence,
stage of development, mode of
operation, and intended use of 13
spill response devices, concepts, or
prototypes. These 13 technologies
were developed under previous
contracts to the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) for
detection, containment, and cleanup
of hazardous chemicals. The 13
technologies were: two models of a
cholinesterase antagonist monitor
for pesticides (CAM-1 and CAM-4);
a hazardous materials identification
kit (HMIDK); two insoluble sinkers
detectors; a lactate dehydrogenase
(LDH) test method for chlorocarbons;
an oxidation/reduction field test kit; a
particle size analyzer for oil/water
mixtures; a foamed concrete dike
system; a leak plugger system; vapor
control coolants; vapor control
foams; a capture and containment
bag; an emergency collection
system; and a sorbent oil recovery
system.
Potential users and manu-
facturers were informed about the
devices by presentations, mailings,
exhibits at conferences, and
publications in trade magazines. In
addition, value engineering analyses
were performed on two prototypes.
After examining either the device
or the available technical literature
on the devices, potential users or
manufacturers were Invited to offer
comments and suggestions on the
item. These responses were then
analyzed to assess the potential for
practical application for each
technology. The study generated a
high level of interest for several of
the prototypes. Analysis of the
responses Indicated that five of the
prototypes were ready for
development and four others could
be commercialized if certain
Improvements were made.
This Project Summary was
developed by EPA's Hazardous Waste
Engineering Research Laboratory,
Cincinnati, OH, to announce key
findings of the research project that Is
fully documented In a separate report
of the same title (see Project Report
ordering information at back).
Introduction
The full report describes efforts to
elicit interest in and to analyze the
practical potential for 13 spill response
prototypes, concepts, or devices that had
been developed under various EPA
Office of Research and Development
(ORD) contracts over the proceeding
ten-year period but that had not been
commercialized. New environmental laws
such as the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976 and the
Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation and Liability
Act (CERCLA) of 1980 justified
reassessment of the utility of the outputs
of initiatives taken by EPA's ORD under
the Clean Water Act (PL 92-500) to
develop technologies for the detection,
containment, and cleanup of hazardous
chemicals in the environment.
Assessment Activities
Users and manufacturers were
informed about the technologies by
mailing one-page descriptions,
presentations to trade groups,
publications in trade magazines, exhibits
at conferences, USEPA technical reports
and Project Summaries, and exchanges
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of information by telephone. Information
was provided to organizations that
showed interest in the technologies or
that, based on Science Applications
International Corporation's (SAIC)
knowledge of manufacturers, research
and development staffs, experts, and
special interest groups, had a potential
need to learn about the items.
Special activities were performed to
assess the practical applicability of
specific prototypes, including:
• Value engineering analyses for the
cholinesterase antagonist monitors
(CAMs) and the emergency collection
system;
• Development of a USEPA manual on
the use of foams by first responders to
control spills;
• Fabrication, testing, and market
analysis of the capture and
containment bag;
• Field and laboratory testing of several
prototypes by users and manufacturers
to identify needed improvements.
Assessment of Spill Response
Systems
The authors of the report then
solicited comments from potential users
and manufacturers. The advantages cited
by the respondents were evaluated to
assess the potential for practical
application of each technology and to
identify improvements that were
considered necessary for successful
implementation. A brief description of
each of the 13 technologies and a
summary of the respondent's comments
are presented in the following
paragraphs.
Cholinesterase Antagonist
Monitors (CAM-1 and CAM-4)
Pesticide detection devices for
laboratory (CAM-1) or field detection
(CAM-4) of organophosphate and
carbamate pesticides in water by the
inhibition of cholinesterase enzyme
activity. The consensus of opinions after
review and testing was that the sensitivity
of the monitor needed to be increased
significantly. While the CAM-1 used
outmoded circuitry, the value
engineering analysis indicated that the
CAM-4 was a well-made unit that
would be in demand if sensitivity could
be increased.
Hazardous Materials
Identification Kit (HMIDK)
A hand-carried test kit capable of
analyzing wastes for 36 common
hazardous organic and inorganic
substances. Potential users and
manufacturers commented that the kit
was complex and required a relatively
high level of skill and training.
Nevertheless, the kit could meet the
need to identify hazardous materials in
soil and water if cost and complexity
could be reduced.
Insoluble Sinkers Detectors
Two separate devices to detect and
locate denser-than-water organic
pollutants that settle to the bottom of
rivers, ponds, lakes, and streams. The
first device, using changes in
conductivity, was judged to have
inadequate sensitivity for use in
monitoring drinking water intakes. The
opinion of the respondents was that the
second device, based on acoustic
echoing, would not be used frequently
enough to justify its cost. In addition, a
less costly, more efficient device
operating on the same principle had
become available.
Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH)
Test Method
A field screening test for detecting
chlorinated hydrocarbons in water by the
inhibition of lactate dehydrogenase
enzyme activity. Inadequate sensitivity
and expected interference by other
chemicals commonly present in
wastewater were the primary objections
expressed by the reviewers of the
technology. It was also noted that
alternate methods for detection are
available.
Oxidation/Reduction Field Test
Kit
device that can distinguish
incompatible wastes in the field by their
redox potentials. Several reviewers noted
that they were using this kit successfully
to assure proper segregation of wastes at
cleanup sites. Based on his experience,
one respondent expressed some
concern that an inexperienced operator
could misclassify flammable liquids as
oxidants. Units are being produced
commercially.
Particle Size Analyzer
A device that uses stop-action
photography to measure the size of oil
droplets in oil/brine mixtures. The
reviewers agreed that this unit would be
very useful in determining when to take
oil/water separators out of service,
particularly at field sites such as drilling
platforms. Recommendations were made
that the photographic process be
replaced by a less complex techniq
that would make it possible for a l<
highly trained operator to use. At le
two manufacturers are pursuing
improved system that takes U
comment into consideration.
Foamed Concrete
Quick-setting, rigid concrete to
used by first responders to build si
supporting temporary dikes around spi
Very little interest was exhibited for t
technology; the unit's weight and lack
portability were the major objections.
addition, reviewers noted that
available urethane dike pack was mi
practical.
Leak Plugger System
A rifle-like device that plugs leaks
tanks, drums, pipes, and other vessels
injecting polyurethane foam. While c
and relatively short shelf-like for I
urethane precursor chemicals we
expected to reduce the utility of t
device, specific areas where it could
valuable were noted. The U.S. Co
Guard is currently using a modifi
system to plug leaks below the waterl
of damaged vessels.
Vapor Control Coolants
The use of Dry Ice to inhibit release
the atmosphere of toxic and/or flammal
fumes from spilled volatile chemicc
The ready availability of large quantit
of this coolant near spills of vola
organic liquids was not expected to
common. A representative of t
Cryogenic Gas Association noted that
existing device for the conversion
liquid carbon dioxide to snow might
modified to meet the objective of t
concept.
Vapor Control Foams
The application of surface foams
inhibit the release to the atmosphere
toxic and/or flammable fumes fn
spilled volatile chemicals. Consideral
interest was noted on this topic. There
evidence that it is being widely used
firefighters and other emergen
response personnel. The consensus v
that wide distribution of information woi
be helpful.
Capture and Containment Bag
A large, polyethylene bag designed
be attached to leaking tanks, drur
pipes, and other vessels so that liqu
can be collected. Sufficient posit
reaction was expressed for this prototy
that additional prototype bags w(
designed, fabricated, and subjected
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further testing. The fabricator, B.F.
Goodrich, (as well as the majority of
other reviewers) concluded that the bags
were "extremely viable." Respondents
indicated that a cost of $200-$400 per
unit would be acceptable.
Emergency Collection System
A segmented 7,000-gal. poly-
urethane-coated bag equipped with a
suction hose and a pumping unit to
collect and retain liquid chemical spills.
Only minimal interest was expressed in
this system; high cost was the major
deterrent. The use of pillow bags and
portable pumps and hoses was noted as
a more economical alternative.
Sorbent OH Recovery System
A mobile system to collect oil from the
surface of lakes, streams, and rivers in
open-celled polyurethane foam cubes
that can be retrieved and recycled.
Inefficient recovery of the oil-saturated
cubes was noted as the major drawback
of the system. In addition, other
equipment is available and is believed to
be superior.
Conclusions
Based on the assessment activities
carried out in this study, five of the
studied technologies are considered
suitable and ready for practical
application in the immediate future.
These are: oxidation/reduction field test
kit, particle size analyzer, leak plugger,
vapor control foams, and capture and
containment bag.
Four systems that may be suitable for
implementation if modifications can be
made are the cholinesterase antagonist
monitor (CAM-4), w+iich requires
increased sensitivity; the hazardous
materials identification kit (HMIDK),
which must be simplified and reduced in
cost; vapor control coolants, which wrtl
be practical only if a system ca/r be
devised for conversion of liquid tfarbon
dioxide into a deliverable solid f<4rn for
blanketing a spill; and the emergency
collection system, which requires
changes in design and materials
reduce its cost.
The remaining four technologies were
deemed to be unsuitable for practical
application at this time. Competition from
existing technology was a major factor,
while cost and complexity were other
factors.
Recommendations
Specific recommendations for seven
of the devices studied follow:
• CAMs - Modify the devices to
respond to a lower detection limit.
• HMIDK - Simplify the kit so that it
may be used with minimal training.
Also, reduce the cost and make
replacement parts and reagents
available from a single manufacturer.
• Particle Size Analyzer - Continue
work to replace manual photographic
analysis with computerized analysis of
photo-images.
• Foamed Concrete - Modify the
prototype to make it less expensive
and more portable.
• Vapor Control Foams - Publish and
distribute the new handbook on the
use of foams to spill responders.
• Capture and Containment Bag -
Make the results of this study available
to those small and medium firms who
may manufacture the units as specialty
items.
• Emergency Collection System -
Modify the collection bag to reduce
cost significantly and/or make its reuse
practical.
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Mark L Evans and Holly A. Carroll are with Science Applications International
Corporation, McLean, VA 22102.
Mary K. Stinson is the EPA Project Officer (see below).
The complete report, entitled "Evaluation of Thirteen Spill Response
Technologies," (Order No. PB 87-165 619/AS; Cost: $13.95, subject to
change) will be available only from:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: 703-487-4650
The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
Hazardous Waste Engineering Research Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Cincinnati, OH 45268
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United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Center for Environmental Research
Information
Cincinnati OH 45268
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
EPA/600/S2-87/019
0000329 PS
U S ENVIR PROTECTION AGENCY
llScACO1** I«- 60604
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