United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Atmospheric Research and
Exposure Assessment Laboratory
Research Triangle Park NC 27711
Research and Development
EPA/600/S3-90/094 Aug. 1991
i§r EPA Project Summary
Problem POHC Reference
Directory
Kim W. Baughman, Ruby H. James, Ralph B. Spafford, and
Christina H. Duffey
The hazardous waste incineration
program is highly dependent on the
regional permit writers and their
knowledge of analytical methods for
determining Principal Organic Hazard-
ous Constituents (POHCs). Every trial
burn plan must be approved by the
regional permit writer. Because of the
myriad of compounds that are proposed
as test chemicals and because of the
ever-changing status of analytical
methodology for trace organic analy-
sis, a tremendous burden is placed on
the permit writer to stay abreast of the
developments in the field. Currently,
there is no means to keep permit writers
informed of advances in measurement
technology.
Measurement methods for many of
the Appendix VIII compounds have been
developed only in the last few years.
Many compounds are designated
"problem POHCs" because they are
difficult to determine or cannot be de-
termined at all with current technology.
The purpose of this report was to as-
semble data on the Appendix VIII com-
pounds relative to their analytical
method status, physical properties, and
combustion properties. The objective is
to provide regional hazardous waste
permit writers with immediate access to
these data to assist them in their review
of trial burn sampling and analysis
plans. Access to these data will allow
permit writers to foresee potential prob-
lems in the plans and to specify method
modifications or to suggest alternate
POHCs that are similar in chemical and
physical characteristics but easier to
determine. This should accelerate the
permitting process by allowing a quicker
review of trial burn plans and by reduc-
ing the number of tests that must be
repeated because of analytical prob-
lems. The directory has also been made
available in disk form for storage and
access on personal computers.
This Project Summary was devel-
oped by EPA's Atmospheric Research
and Exposure Assessment Laboratory,
Research Triangle Park, NC, to an-
nounce 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
Regional hazardous waste incineration
permit writers frequently need assistance
in evaluating the validity of sampling and
analysis procedures for Principal Organic
Hazardous Constituents (POHCs). Indi-
vidual assistance is being provided, but is
inadequate to meet the needs of the permit
writers. A great deal of responsibility is still
placed on the individual permit writer.
Currently, there is no mechanism to
keep permit writers informed of recent ad-
vances in measurement technology. There
is also no mechanism to provide them with
quick access to pertinent data for specific
compounds of interest. This situation criti-
cally hinders the successful implementa-
tion of the hazardous waste incineration
regulatory program. Assistance in "pack-
aged" form, such as guidance documents
and personal computer disks, is potentially
of great value because of the immediate
accessibility of the information.
Sampling and analysis procedures for
many of the Appendix VIII compounds have
been developed only in the last few years.
There are even some POHCs for which
methods are still unknown and others that
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present special problems in sampling and
analysis. The data base of measurement
methods is expanding rapidly. Permit writ-
ers and other users would greatly benefit if
easy access to this information is pro-
vided. Therefore, communication of this
information to the permit writers in a useful
form is particularly important.
The objective of this project was to
assemble a data base containing informa-
tion concerning problem POHCs and to
suggest solutions to the difficulties associ-
ated with sampling or analyzing them. Use
of the updated reference material will be
quicker and easier than contacting resource
people and should be used as a supplement
to their assistance. It will greatly aid the
permit writers in avoiding pitfalls in the
selection of POHCs or sampling and
analysis methods for them. This information
will also be quite valuable to engineering
research and development programs and
the technical community in general.
Research Approach
The goal of this task was to assemble a
database containing information pertaining
to the availability and reliability of sampling
and analysis methods for Appendix VIII
compounds. Compounds known to be dif-
ficult to determine were to be flagged, and
if possible, solutions to these problems
were to be suggested. Another goal of the
task was to provide physical and chemical
data on the compounds and to provide
searching capabilities for retrieving the
names of compounds with specified
physical or chemical properties. This would
allow the permit writers to suggest similar
alternate compounds in cases where a
substitute is needed for the designated
POHC.
The format of the directory was de-
signed to provide the permit writers with
easy access to as much information as is
available for the Appendix VIII compounds.
Many of the fields are simply entries of
common physical and chemical properties
of the compounds. These include the mo-
lecular weight, compound class, boiling
point, melting point, flash point, heat of
combustion, and water solubility. Also in-
cluded are a ranking of heat of combustion
from lowest to highest for the compounds
for which values were available.
Because the objective of this data base
is to assist permit writers, we have in-
cluded two fields dealing with thermal sta-
bility and two with heat of combustion. The
data for thermal stability include a numeri-
cal ranking of 320 compounds and a sub-
division of the compounds into seven
classes based on the ranking.
We have included toxicity data and the
Chemical Abstract Service registry num-
ber when available.
The remainder of the record includes
information concerning the appropriate
sampling and analysis methods for the
POHC and the validity of the methods. We
have listed the suggested sampling method
and analysis method. When appropriate,
we have used SW-846 methods. In many
cases, the methods suggested have not
been evaluated for the specific compound,
but have been evaluated for compounds
with similar physical properties or similar
functional groups. We have included a
memo field entitled "Validation Status"
which discusses the degree of scrutiny the
compound has undergone with regard to
the suggested methods.
We have also described specific known
problems in one field and possible solu-
tions in another. This would include, for
instance, discussions of compounds that
are reactive, water soluble, or that might
break through the sampling media. We
have also ijsted the common general and
specific problems encountered with each
compound.
The general problems categories re-
late to: (1) analysis, (2) the hazardous
nature of ^he POHC, and (3) sampling.
Specific problems are subdivided under
each of these three general categories.
Sampling problems include blank effects,
breakthrough, and reactivity. Analysis
problems include interferences, recovery,
sensitivity, and solubility in water.
Identification of problem POHCs was
accomplished;through a literature survey
and through discussion with experts in the
field. Specific properties and problems are
entered in the data base records. The
records also contain memo fields to allow
discussion of problems and recommended
solutions.
Conclusions
The compilation of this data into an
easily accessible directory should acceler-
ate the review process for trial burn plans.
It should also reduce the number of retests
needed because the sampling and analy-
sis problems encountered could have been
avoided if the information on the particular
POHC had been available prior to the burn.
The directory is easy to use and will greatly
assist the | research and development
community as well as the permit writer.
•fru.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1991 - 548-028/40041
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Kim W. Baughman, Ruby H. James, Ralph B. Spafford, and Christina H. Duffey are
with Southern Research Institute, Birmingham, AL 35255-5305.
Larry D. Johnson Is the EPA Project Off leer (see below).
The complete report, entitled "Problem POHC Reference Directory," (Order No. for
paper copy PB91-20W61/AS; Cost: $15.00; Order No. for diskette PB91-507749/
AS; Cost: $180.00; both costs are 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:
Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Center for Environmental Research
Information
Cincinnati, OH 45268
BULK RATE
POSTAGE & FEES PAID
EPA PERMIT NO. G-35
Official Business
Penally for Private Use $300
EPA/600/S3-90/094
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