United States Environmental Protection Agency Industrial Environmental Research Laboratory Research Triangle Park NC 27711 Research and Development EPA-600/S7-83-024 June 1983 v>EPA Project Summary At-Sea Incineration of PCB-Containing Wastes Onboard the M/T VULCANUS D.G. Ackerman, J. F. McGaughey, and D.E. Wagoner This report describes tests during the incineration-at-sea of a shipload of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on- board the M/T VULCANUS, during August 1982 in the Gulf of Mexico. A standard EPA-specified sampling train was used to acquire samples of the effluent combustion gases. A fixed- position water-cooled probe, in the starboard incinerator, directed stack gas to the train. Ten tests were per- formed. Samples of the waste were also taken during each test. Samples were analyzed on land for PCBs, chlorc- benzenes, tetrachlorodibenzofurans (TCDFs), and tetrachlorodibenzo-p- dioxins (TCDDs). Other test related activities included wipe-sampling and onboard analysis of these samples, acquisition of samples of work space air in the incineration control room and the dining room, and acquisition of pertinent process related data. The var- ious measures of performance met or exceeded requirements of the permit. Incinerator walls averaged 1303°C, oxygen 10.1 percent, carbon dioxide 9.1 percent carbon monoxide 8 ppm, combustion efficiency 99.99 percent and destruction efficiencies greater than 99.99 percent for PCBs and chlorobenzenes and greater than 99.9 percent for TCDFs. This Project Summary was developed by EPA's Industrial Environmental Re- search Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC, to announce key findings of the research project that is fully docu- mented in a separate report of the same title (see Project Report ordering information at back). Introduction Thermal destruction of combustible wastes at sea is an alternative to land- based incineration. In August 1974, March 1977, and July-September 1977, testing sponsored by U.S. Environmental Protec- tion Agency (EPA) was performed while the M/T VULCANUS was burning organo- chlorine wastes. Results of these tests were evaluated by the EPA: it was con- cluded that oceanic incineration was an environmentally acceptable and cost- effective alternative to other means of disposal. The first at-sea incineration of wastes containing polychlorinated byphenyls (PCBs) was performed in U.S. waters under EPA permit HQ-81-002 during December 1981 - January 1982. The wastes were burned on the incinerator ship M/T VULCANUS, operated by Ocean Combustion Service (OCS) BV, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The wastes were sup- plied by Chemical Waste Management (CWM), Inc., Oak Brook, IL, from its facility in Emelle, AL CWM and OCS were the permittees. OCS is a wholly owned sub- sidiary of CWM. During August 15-31, 1982 a second shipload of PCB-containing wastes sup- plied by CWM was incinerated by the M/T VULCANUS, also under research permit HQ-81 -002. EPA sponsored a test project during this second burn, and this docu- ment reports the results of testing to measure emissions of unburned PCBs, chlorobenzenes (CBs), tetrachlorodiben- zofurans (TCDFs), and tetrachlorodibenzo- p-dioxins (TCDDs). Summary of Results Incineration occurred in the Gulf of Mexico at-sea incineration site designated ------- by EPA for oceanic incineration. The site is centered 315 km (196 mi) SSE of Gal- veston, TX, and 350 km (217 mi ) S of Cameron, LA and occupies an area of about 4,900 km2 (1,890 mi2). Incinera- tion operations started on August 1 7 and were completed on August 29. The cargo was 3,523 metric tons (mt) (3,883 tons) in weight and 3,031 m3 (801,000 gal.) in volume. Incineration operations required 282 hours and a total of 3,507 mt was destroyed. A standard EPA-specified sampling train was used to acquire samples of the ef- fluent combustion gases. A fixed-position water-cooled probe, mounted in the star- board incinerator, directed stack gas to the train. Ten tests were performed. Samples of the waste were also taken during each test Samples were analyzed on land for PCBs, chlorobenzenes, tetrachlorodiben- zofurans (TCDFs), and tetrachlorodibenzo- p-dioxins (TCDDs) by the Univerisy of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, and the Environ- mental Monitoring Systems Laboratory of EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC (EMSL- RTP). Other test-related activities included wipe-sampling and onboard analysis of these samples, acquisition of samples of work space air in the incineration control room and the dining room, and acquistion of pertinent process-related data. The various measures of performance met or exceeded requirements of the per- mit Incineratorwall temperatures averaged 1303°C, oxygen 10.1 percent carbon dioxide 9.1 percent carbon monoxide 8 ppm, combustion efficiency 99.99 per- cent, and destruction efficiencies greater than 99.99 percent for PCBs and chloro- benzenes and greater than 99.9 percent for TCDFs. The full report describes the M/T VULCANUS and the testing, gives results of the test operations and analyses, and presents destruction efficiencies. There are nine appendices: voyage report of the Chief Engineer, example calculations, se- lected portions of research permit HQ-81 - 002, evaluation of a heat-traced Teflon line, procedures for cleaning glassware, EPA summary of analyses of TCDFs and TCDDs, EPA report on the quality assur- ance effort on the analyses of TCDFs and TCDDs, University of Nebraska-Lincoln report on the analyses of test samples for TCDFs and TCDDs, and Research Triangle Institute report on the quality assurance effort on the analyses of audit samples for PCBs. D. Ackerman, J. McGaughey, andD. Wagoner are with TRW, Inc., Redondo Beach, CA 90278. Merrill D. Jackson is the EPA Project Officer (see below). The complete report, entitled "At-Sea Incineration of PCB-Containing Wastes Onboard the M/T VULCANUS," (Order No. PB 83-207 647; Cost: $23.50, 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: Industrial Environmental Research Laboratory U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 United States Environmental Protection Agency Center for Environmental Research Information Cincinnati OH 45268 Postage and Fees Paid Environmental Protection Agency EPA 335 Official Business Penalty for Private Use $300 CHICAGO It- 60o04 ------- |