FINAL
BEST DEMONSTRATED AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY (BOAT)
BACKGROUND DOCUMENT FOR
P AND U THALLIUM WASTES
Larry Rosengrant, Chief
Treatment Technology Section
Rhonda M. Craig
Project Manager
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Solid Waste
, 401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20460
May 1990
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This document was prepared for the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Office of Solid Waste, by Versar Inc. under Contract No.
68-W9-0068. Mr. Larry Rosengrant, Chief, Treatment Technology Section,
Waste Treatment Branch, served as the EPA Program Manager during the
preparation of this document and the development of treatment standards
for thallium wastes. The Technical Project Officer for the waste was
Ms. Rhonda M. Craig. Mr. Steven Silverman served as Legal Advisor.
Versar personnel involved in the preparation of this document included
Mr. Jerome Strauss, Program Manager; Mr. Stephen Schwartz, Assistant
Program Manager; Mr. Mark Donnelly and Ms. Kathryn Jones, Staff
Engineers; Ms. Justine Alchowiak, Quality Assurance Officer; Ms. Martha
Martin, Technical Editor; and Ms. Sally Gravely, Program Secretary.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Page No.
1. INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY 1-1
2. INDUSTRIES AFFECTED AND WASTE CHARACTERIZATION 2-1
2.1 Industries Affected and Process Description 2-1
2.2 Waste Characterization 2-2
2.3 Determination of Waste Treatability Groups 2-3
3. APPLICABLE AND DEMONSTRATED TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES 3-1
3.1 Applicable Treatment Technologies 3-1
3.1.1 Applicable Treatment Technologies for
Nonwastewaters 3-1
3.1.2 Applicable Treatment Technologies for
Wastewaters 3-2
3.2 Demonstrated Treatment Technologies 3-3
3.2.1 Demonstrated Treatment Technologies for
Nonwastewaters 3-3
3.2.2 Demonstrated Treatment Technologies for
Wastewaters 3-3
4. PERFORMANCE DATA 4-1
5. DETERMINATION OF BEST DEMONSTRATED AVAILABLE
TECHNOLOGY (BOAT) 5-1
6. SELECTION OF REGULATED CONSTITUENTS 6-1
7. CALCULATION OF BOAT TREATMENT STANDARDS 7-1
8. REFERENCES 8-1
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LIST OF TABLES
Table 1-1 BOAT Treatment Standards for P113, P115,
U214, U215, U216, and U217 Nonwastewaters
Table 1-2 BOAT Treatment Standards for P113, P115,
U214, U215, U216, and U217 Wastewaters ............. 1-4
Table 2-1 Current Manufacturer of Thallium Compounds ......... 2-2
Table 2-2 Physical Properties of Thallium Compounds .......... 2-5
Table 2-3 Estimated Quantities of RCRA P-Code and U-Code
Thallium Wastes Generated in 1986 .................. 2-6
Table 2-4 Estimated Quantities of RCRA P-Code and U-Code
Thallium Wastes Received by TSDR Facilities in 1986. 2-8
Table 7-1 BOAT Treatment Standards for P113, P115,
U214, U215, U216, and U217 Nonwastewaters .......... 7-2
Table 7-2 BOAT Treatment Standards for P113, P115,
U214, U215, U216, and U217 Wastewaters ............. 7-2
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1. INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY
Pursuant to section 3004(m) of the Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act (RCRA), as amended by the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA)
enacted on November 8, 1984, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is
promulgating treatment standards based on the best demonstrated available
technology (BOAT) for U-code and P-code thallium wastes. These wastes
are identified in 40 CFR 261.33 as follows:
P113 - Thallic oxide
P114 - Thallium (I) selenite
P115 - Thallium (I) sulfate
U214 - Thallium (I) acetate
U215 - Thallium (I) carbonate
U216 - Thallium (I) chlorate
U217 - Thallium (I) nitrate
These wastes are being regulated for the thallium constituent except for
P114. P114 is being regulated for selenium but not regulated for
thallium. Compliance with these treatment standards is a prrequisite
for placement of these wastes in facilities designated as land disposal
units according to 40 CFR Part 268. The effective date of the final
promulgated treatment standards is August 8, 1990.
This background document presents the Agency's technical support and
rationale for developing regulatory standards for these wastes.
Sections 2 through 7 present waste-specific information for the thallium-
containing wastes. Section 2 presents the number and location of
facilities affected by the land disposal restrictions, the waste-
generating process, and waste characterization data. Section 3 discusses
the technologies used to treat the waste (or similar wastes), and
Section 4 presents available performance data, including data on which
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the treatment standards are based. Section 5 explains EPA's determina-
tion of BOAT, while Section 6 discusses the selection of constituents to
be regulated. Treatment standards are determined in Section 7.
The BOAT program and promulgated methodology are more thoroughly
described in two additional documents: Methodology for Developing BOAT
Treatment Standards (USEPA 1989a) and Generic Quality Assurance Project
Plan for Land Disposal Restrictions Program ("BOAT") (USEPA 1988b). The
petition process to be followed in requesting a variance from the BOAT
treatment standards is discussed in the methodology document.
The wastes generated from production and use of thallium compounds
may be either wastewaters or nonwastewaters. A wastewater is defined by
the Agency as containing less than 1 percent (weight basis) total
suspended solids* and less than 1 percent (weight basis) total organic
carbon (TOG). Wastes not meeting this definition must comply with the
treatment standards for nonwastewaters.
The BOAT treatment standard for nonwastewater forms of P113, P115,
U214, U215, U216, and U217 is thermal recovery or stabilization as a
method of treatment. The Agency is setting a technology-based standard
because the only thallium nonwastewater stabilization data available are
inconclusive in setting a concentration-based standard. Some of the
thallium stabilization data contained no untreated TCLP concentrations,
and the data points differed by more than two orders of magnitude with no
explanation given (HWTC 1989a). The Agency has, however, received data
on thallium compounds that indicate that stabilization works for these
* The term "total suspended solids" (TSS) clarifies EPA's previously used
terminology of "total solids" and "filterable solids." Specifically,
the quantity of total suspended solids is measured by Method 209C
(Total Suspended Solids Dried at 103 to 105°C) in Standard Methods
for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 16th Edition (APHA, AWWA,
and WPCF 1985).
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wastes (HWTC 1989b). BOAT for nonwastewater forms of P114 is
stabilization. Stabilization has been determined to represent BOAT for
the selenium portion of thallium selenite (P114) nonwastewaters (USEPA
1990a). EPA is not regulating P114 nonwastewaters for thallium, but the
Agency believes that treatment of P114 nonwastewaters for selenium will
effectively reduce the concentration of thallium as well.
BOAT for the wastewater forms of P113, P115, U214, U215, U216, and
U217 is chemical oxidation of thallium (I) compounds followed by chemical
precipitation with hydroxide compounds, settling, and filtration. The
treatment standard for these wastewaters is 0.14 mg/1, measured as total
composition of a 24-hour composite sample.
The treatment standard for the selenium component of P114 is a
concentration-based standard, with BOAT for removal of selenium being
chemical treatment for selenium. The treatment removes only the selenium
component. EPA has no data on the removal of thallium from P114
wastewaters. However, thallium is extremely insoluble at alkaline pHs
(Mellor 1946) . EPA believes BDAT subsequent to removal of selenium from
P114 wastewaters is chemical precipitation at alkaline conditions.
Therefore, BDAT for P114 wastewaters is chemical treatment for selenium
removal followed by chemical precipitation at alkaline conditions. These
treatment standards are summarized in Tables 1-1 and 1-2.
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Table 1-1 BOAT Treatment Standards for P113, P115,
U214, U215, U216, and U217 Nonwastewaters3
Waste code Treatment standard
P113, P115, U214, THERMAL RECOVERY OR STABILIZATION AS A METHOD OF
U215, U216, U217 TREATMENT
3 Also see the Best Demonstrated Available Technology (BOAT) Background
Document for K031, K084, K101, K102, Characteristic Arsenic Wastes
(D004), Characteristic Selenium Wastes (D010), and P and U Wastes
Containing Arsenic and Selenium Listing Constituents (USEPA 1990a) for
selenium treatment standard for P114.
Table 1-2 BOAT Treatment Standards for P113, P115,
U214, U215, U216, and U217 Wastewaters3
Maximum for any single
24-hour composite sample
Regulated constituent Total composition (mg/1)
Thallium 0.14
a Also see the Best Demonstrated Available Technology (BDAT) Background
Document for K031, K084, K101, K102, Characteristic Arsenic Wastes
(D004), Characteristic Selenium Wastes (D010), and P and U Wastes
Containing Arsenic and Selenium Listing Constituents (USEPA 1990a) for
selenium treatment standard for P114.
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2. INDUSTRIES AFFECTED AND WASTE CHARACTERIZATION
Under 40 CFR 261.33, the thallium-containing hazardous wastes are
specifically listed as follows:
P113 - Thallic oxide; Thallium (III) oxide
P114 - Thallium (I) selenite
P115 - Thallium (I) sulfate
U214 - Thallium (I) acetate
U215 - Thallium (I) carbonate
U216 - Thallium (I) chloride
U217 - Thallium (I) nitrate
The Agency has determined that these listed wastes represent a single
treatability group based on their similar physical and chemical
characteristics. They are all inorganic forms of thallium that generally
ionize when dissolved in water. As described later in this section, EPA
has examined the sources of the wastes, the specific similarities in the
waste composition, applicable and demonstrated treatment technologies,
and attainable treatment performance in order to support a simplified
regulatory approach for these inorganic wastes.
2.1 Industry Affected and Process Description
According to the 1987 Minerals Yearbook (U.S. Bureau of Mines 1988),
only 4,000 pounds of thallium compounds were consumed in the United
States in 1987. Thallous bromide (thallium (I) bromide, TIBr) and
thallous iodide (thallium (I) iodide, Til) are used as infrared optical
prism and window materials. The other thallium compounds are used
primarily for research purposes.
Currently, there is only one manufacturer of thallium salts in the
United States. The compounds presently made are listed in Table 2-1.
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Other thallium compounds are either imported for use or sold from
stockpiles of materials produced at earlier times.
Table 2-1 Current Manufacturer of Thallium Compounds
Wastes
potentially
Plant Location Products generated
Harshaw Filtrol Solon, Ohio Thallium (I) bromide
Thallium (I) chloride U216
Thallium (I) iodide
Source: SRI 1989.
The production process currently used to manufacture the three
thallium salts is proprietary. However, in the past, all thallium
compounds were generally made from thallic sulfate (thallium (III)
sulfate, T1~(SO,),), which had been recovered as a byproduct of the
production of cadmium metal. Until about 10 years ago, thallic sulfate
was sold primarily as a rodenticide. This use has largely disappeared,
and the product has been replaced by other non-thallium-containing,
nonpersistent pesticides.
2.2 Waste Characterization
The physical properties of thallium compounds are presented in
Table 2-2 at the end of this section. A very limited amount of waste
characterization information is available to characterize thallium wastes,
No waste generation was reported by the one facility manufacturing
thallium salts (see Table 2-1). Wastes from that facility's processes
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are discharged to a local publicly-owned treatment works (POTW) system
(Versar 1989).
Waste composition data for waste from only one facility were reported
in the 1986 National Survey of Hazardous Waste Generators (Generator
Survey, USEPA 1986b). This waste contained 75 to 90 percent thallium,
which is typical for a discarded laboratory chemical. (U- and P-code
wastes are discarded, spilled, or off-specification chemicals.)
Table 2-3 lists the generators and the amounts of thallium wastes
generated by each facility. According to the 1986 National Survey of
Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage, Disposal, and Recycling Facilities
(TSDR Survey), only six facilities reported generating thallium wastes
(USEPA 1986a). Table 2-4 shows the amounts of thallium wastes reportedly
received by commercial waste treatment and disposal firms in 1986. Most
of this quantity was reported to be obsolete thallic sulfate rodenticide.
2.3 Determination of Waste Treatabllitv Groups
In some cases, wastes with different waste codes, produced in similar
processes or in similar industries, can be treated to similar
concentrations using the same technologies. In these instances, the
Agency may combine the codes into a single treatability group.
Based on careful review of the generators of thallium wastes and
available waste characterization data, the Agency has determined that
thallium nonwastewaters constitute one treatability group.
Thallium nonwastewaters are expected to be similar in terms of the
constituents that they contain, and all are inorganic thallium
compounds. Thallium wastewaters are likewise expected to be similar in
terms of the constituents that they contain, and all are inorganic
thallium compounds. Therefore, thallium wastewaters constitute one
treatability group.
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None of the thallium wastes routinely generated are expected to contain
organic constituents. P114 wastewaters and nonwastewaters contain
selenium and are being regulated for selenium only and not thallium.
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Table 2-2 Physical Properties of Thallium Compounds
Melting
point (°C)
Thallium, Tl 303.50
P113 Thallic (III) oxide Tl_0, 717
Boiling
point (°)
1457
875
Solubility
inH20
Insoluble
Insoluble
P114 Thallium (I) aelenite Tl2(SeOg)3
P115 Thallium (I) sulfate,
U214 Thallium (I) acetate,
U215 Thallium (I) carbonate, T12C02
U216 Thallium (I) chlorate, T1C102
U217 Thallium (I) nitrate, TIRO.
3
(cubic crystalline structure)
632
131
273
206
decomposes
430
4.B730 19.1410°
Very soluble
4.0315"5 27.2100
2.0
9.5520 4.13
57.31
100
100
Source: Meast 1989.
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Table 2-3 Estimated Quantities of RCRA Thalliu
Hastes Generated in 1986
RCRA P or
U waste
Thallium waste
generator
Estimated
quantity generated
in 1986 (pounds)
Comments
P113
Aldrich Chemical Co.
1 gallon of waste reported (assume
9 Ib/gal density); research
quantity.
P113
Argonne Rational Lab.
270
30 gallons of waste reported
(assume 9 Ib/gal); research
quantity.
PI 14
P115
E.I. Du Pont Co.
Aldrich Chemical Co.
Research quantity.
1 gallon of waste reported (assume
9 Ib/gal); research quantity.
P115
P115
E.I. Du Pont Co.
TRH Electronics & Defense
20
Research quantity.
Actual thallium content not known;
assume IX of P115 in material.
P115
TRH Electronics & Defense
60
6,000 Ib of electroplating waste
mixture including D004, F007,
P030, P038, P064, P106, and F11S;
assume only trace (0.1Z) of PI 15
in the mixture.8
P115
USAF Norton AFB
810
90 gallons of waste reported
(assume 9 Ib/gal).
Total F-code thallium waste generated 1,180
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Table 2-3 (continued)
RCRA F or
U waste
Thallium waste
generator
Estimated
quantity generated
in 1986 (pounds)
Connents
U214
U215
0215
U216
Aldrich Chemical Co.
Aldrich Chemical Co.
E.I. Du Pont Co.
U216 Aldrich Chemical Co.
Argoime Rational Lab.
27
U217 Aldrich Chemical Co.
U217 American Cyanamid 10
U217 E.I. Du Pont Co.
Total U-code thallium waste generated 79
1 gallon of waste reported (assume
9 Ib/gal); research quantity.
1 gallon of waste reported (assume
9 Ib/gal); research quantity.
Research quantity.
1 gallon of waste reported (assime
9 Ib/gal); research quantity.
3 gallons of waste reported
(assume 9 Ib/gal); research
quantity.
1 gallon of waste reported (assume
9 Ib/gal); research quantity.
110 gallons of waste reported as
mixture of P001. U204, and U217
(assume 9 Ib/gal and IX U217).a
Research quantity.
Total P- and U-code thallium
waste Kenerated
1,259
Assumptions based on telephone conversations between Versar Inc. personnel and the generating plants.
Source: USEPA 1986a.
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Table 2-4 Estimated Quantities of RCRA Thallium Hastes
Received by TSDR Facilities in 1986
RCRA F or
U waste
Thallium waste
handler
Estimated
quantity handled
in 1986 (pounds)
Comments
F116
Casmalia Resources
40,000
P216 Appropriate Technologies II 10
Total F-code thallium waste handled 40,010
This material consists of obsolete
rodenticides (mixtures of thallium
sulfate and inert materials) that
are being phased out by suppliers
of these materials and thus would
not be a continuing source of this
waste."
Hone.
U214
ThennalKan
U214 Earth Industrial Haste
Total U-code thallium waste handled
45
47
5 gallons of waste reported
(assume 9 Ib/gal).
Hone.
Total F-code and U-code thallium
waste handled
40,057
a This information is based on a telephone conversation between Versar Inc. and Casmalia Resources.
Source: USEPA 1986a.
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3. APPLICABLE AND DEMONSTRATED TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES
This section identifies the treatment technologies that are
applicable to the two thallium treatability groups. It also discusses
which of the applicable technologies can be considered demonstrated for
the purpose of establishing BOAT.
To be applicable, a technology must be theoretically usable to treat
the waste in question or to treat a waste that is similar in terms of the
parameters that affect treatment selection. To be demonstrated, the
technology must be in full-scale operation for the treatment of the waste
in question or a similar waste. Technologies available only at pilot-
and bench-scale operations are not considered demonstrated technologies.
3.1 Applicable Treatment Technologies
Initial data gathering on the treatment of thallium-containing wastes
l
included review of the technical literature and contacts with industry
representatives. As a result of these efforts, EPA identified four
technologies as applicable for treatment of these wastes. These four
technologies (two for nonwastewater wastes and two for wastewaters) are
discussed briefly below. Further discussion of each of these
technologies is found in the Treatment Technology Background Document
(USEPA 1989b).
3.1.1 Applicable Treatment Technologies for Nonwastewaters
(1) Thermal recovery. Thermal recovery technologies are
applicable to the recovery of thallium from wastes. In high-temperature
metals recovery, the waste is heated in a reducing atmosphere to vaporize
the metal. Thallium has a boiling point of 1457°C. The vaporized
metal usually reacts with air to form an oxide, which is recovered from
the airstream exiting the high-temperature recovery unit.
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(2) Stabilization. Thallium salts — for example, thallic oxide
^O.), thallic hydroxide (Tl(OH).,) wastes (such as wastewater
treatment sludges generated from chemical precipitation treatment of
thallium-containing wastewaters), and thallic selenite--may be treated by
stabilization. Other thallium salts, such as thallium trioxide, thallium
sulfate, and thallium acetate, have been successfully treated by
stabilization (HWTC 1989a, 1989b>. Stabilization involves mixing the
insoluble thallium compounds with lime, fly ash, concrete, cement, other
pozzolanic materials, and water. Chemical reactions occur in the mixed
materials, which then cure into a hard, concrete-like mass.
(Note: Chemical precipitation and chemical oxidation are also
applicable to nonwastewaters. However, these are primarily wastewater
treatment technologies and will be discussed in section 3.1.2. To use
these technologies for treatment of many nonwastewaters, the waste must
first be either dissolved or suspended in water.)
3.1.2 Applicable Treatment Technologies for Wastewaters
(1) Chemical precipitation. Chemical precipitation is a
technology used for treatment of dissolved metals in wastewaters.
Chemicals are added to the waste solution that result in the formation of
insoluble compounds that can be physically separated by technologies such
as sedimentation and filtration. Chemical precipitation of thallium by
the addition of lime or caustic to an aqueous solution or suspension
converts all soluble thallic salts present into highly insoluble thallic
hydroxide (T1(OH)3).
(2) Chemical oxidation. Thallium in wastewaters occurs in two
oxidation states: monovalent thallous (or thallium (I)) salts and
trivalent thallic (or thallium (III)) salts. Typically, thallous
compounds are much more soluble than thallic compounds; thus thallium is
more easily removed from wastewaters when it is in the thallic form.
Thallous salts may be oxidized to thallic compounds by aqueous chemical
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oxidation processes using a variety of oxidizing agents. Chemical
oxidation processes are aqueous treatment processes that are usually used
to destroy organic or oxidizable inorganic constituents in wastewaters.
These processes can also be used, however, to convert a metal from a low
oxidation state to a higher oxidation state. Hydrogen peroxide,
potassium permanganate, and sodium hypochlorite all oxidize thallous
salts to thallic compounds by this reaction (Mellor 1946).
3.2 Demonstrated Treatment Technologies
3.2.1 Demonstrated Treatment Technologies for Nonwastewaters
I
Thermal recovery, stabilization, chemical oxidation, and chemical
precipitation are all full-scale, well-demonstrated technologies that
have been used for management of a wide variety of BDAT list
metal-containing wastes including thallium. Use of chemical oxidation or
precipitation for treatment of many nonwastewaters requires that the
waste first be dissolved or suspended in water. This would be necessary
for chemical oxidation and chemical precipitation pretreatment before
stabilization.
3.2.2 Demonstrated Treatment Technologies for Wastewaters
Chemical oxidation and chemical precipitation are full-scale,
demonstrated wastewater treatment methods used for removal of BDAT list
metal ions from wastewaters. These technologies are therefore
demonstrated for thallium wastewaters.
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4. PERFORMANCE DATA
EPA has limited treatment data on nonwastewater forms of thallium
wastes and no treatment data on wastewater forms. Where sufficient data
are not available on the treatment of the specific wastes of concern, as
is the case with thallium wastes, the Agency may elect to transfer data
on the treatment of a similar waste or wastes, using a demonstrated
technology. To transfer data from another waste category, EPA must find
that the wastes covered by this background document are no more difficult
to treat (based on the waste characteristics that affect performance of
the demonstrated treatment technology) than the treated wastes from which
performance data are being transferred.
Table 2-4 lists the quantities of thallium wastes received by TSDR
facilities in 1986. The facility receiving most of the waste, Casmalia
Resources, is a hazardous waste landfill. It did not treat the waste
prior to disposal. The other facilities received very small quantities
of thallium wastes and mixed them with other wastes prior to treatment.
As a result, limited treatment data on thallium nonwastewaters are
available.
The Agency has extensive data on stabilization as applied to
nonwastewater forms of other BDAT list metal-containing wastes.
Additionally, EPA received data on the stabilization of thallium as part
of the comments in response,to the proposed rule on thallium. Data were
received on thallium stabilization using proprietary reagents
(HWTC 1989a, 1989b). Some of the thallium stabilization data contained
no untreated TCLP concentrations, and the data points differed by more
than two orders of magnitude with no explanation given. The Agency has,
however, received data on thallium compounds that indicate that
stabilization works for these wastes.
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Wastewater treatment data, primarily from EPA's Office of Water, were
analyzed for the development of concentration-based treatment standards
for thallium-containing wastewaters (see Table 4-1). Further information
on these data, including the sources of the data and the treatment
technologies used, can be found in the Preamble to the Third Third Land
Disposal Restrictions Final Rule and in the Best Demonstrated Available
Technology (BOAT) Background Document for Wastewaters Containing BOAT
List Constituents (USEPA 1989c). Data on treatment of other BOAT
metal-containing wastewaters by chemical precipitation and chemical
oxidation can be found in the effluent guidelines background document for
the Inorganic Chemicals Industry (USEPA 1982).
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Table 4-1 Performance Data for Thallium Wastewaters
Average effluent
Technology Technology size concentration (ppb)
Lime precipitation and
sedimentation Full 500.00
Lime precipitation and
sedimentation and
filtration Full 340.00
Source: USEPA 1989c.
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5. DETERMINATION OF BEST DEMONSTRATED
AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY (BOAT)
The Agency examined all available performance data from applicable,
demonstrated technologies to determine (using statistical techniques)
whether one or more of the technologies performs significantly better
than the others. The technology that performs best on a particular waste
or waste treatability group is then evaluated to determine whether it is
"available." To be available the technology must (1) be commercially
available to any generator and (2) provide substantial treatment of the
waste, as determined through evaluation of accuracy-adjusted data. In
determining whether treatment is substantial, EPA may consider data on
the performance of a waste similar to the waste in question provided that
the similar waste is at least as difficult to treat. If the best
technology is not available, the next best technology is evaluated, and
so on until BOAT is determined. The most desirable waste management
technology is one that results in no residual streams or a residual
stream with no hazardous properties. No such technologies, however, have
been identified for thallium wastes.
The best technology identified for thallium nonwastewaters is the
treatment train consisting of chemical oxidation to the thallium (III)
state followed by chemical precipitation and stabilization. There are
significant differences between the solubilities of thallous (thallium
(I)) and thallic (thallium (III)) salts. Thallous hydroxide is very
soluble, and thallic hydroxide is very insoluble. Therefore, conversion
to the thallic state is desirable before stabilization. This treatment
train may necessitate dissolving or slurrying the waste with water prior
to chemical treatment. In the next step, all thallium compounds are
converted to the thallium (III) oxidation state and precipitated as
insoluble thallic hydroxide. The nonwastewater treatment sludge residual
thus generated is then stabilized to reduce the leachability of thallium
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even further. These technologies are commercially available and are
expected to result in significant reduction of thallium in a leachate.
Therefore, the Agency has determined that this approach is BOAT for
thallium nonwastewaters.
Thermal recovery can be used to recover cadmium and zinc because they
have low melting and boiling points. Thallium can also be recovered
using thermal recovery because it has low melting and boiling points;
therefore, thermal recovery is BOAT for thallium nonwastewaters.
For wastewaters, chemical oxidation of thallium (I) to thallium (III)
followed by chemical precipitation of thallium by conventional hydroxide
precipitating agents (e.g., lime or sodium hydroxide) will reduce
significantly the concentration of thallium in wastewaters. Chemical
oxidation and chemical precipitation are commercially available and are
expected to provide significant treatment of thallium. These
technologies represent BOAT for thallium wastewaters.
BOAT for P114 nonwastewaters is stabilization. Stabilization is the
treatment used as BDAT for regulating the selenium content of P114
nonwastewaters (USEPA 1990a). EPA is not regulating P114 nonwastewaters
for thallium, but the Agency believes that treatment of P114 nonwaste-
waters for selenium will effectively reduce the concentration of thallium
as well. The treatment standard for the selenium component of P114
wastewaters is a concentration-based standard with BDAT for removal of
selenium being chemical treatment for selenium. The treatment removes
only the selenium component. EPA has no data on the removal of thallium
from P114 wastewaters. However, thallium is extremely insoluble at
alkaline pHs (Mellor 1986). EPA believes the BDAT subsequent to removal
of selenium from P114 wastewaters is chemical precipitation at alkaline
conditions. BDAT for P114 wastewaters is chemical treatment for selenium
removal followed by chemical precipitation at alkaline conditions.
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6. SELECTION OF REGULATED CONSTITUENTS
EPA is promulgating treatment standards for thallium in both
wastewaters and nonwastewaters for all the P- and U-code thallium wastes
covered by this background document except P114 wastes. Thallium is the
only Appendix VIII constituent for which these wastes are listed (except
for P114, which is discussed below) and is the only BOAT list constituent
that will be found in these wastes on a regular basis (unless these
wastes are mixed with other listed hazardous wastes, in which case other
treatment standards will also apply).
P114 contains both thallium and selenium as BOAT list constituents.
This waste is being regulated only as a selenium-containing waste and is
not being regulated for thallium. Treatment standards for selenium in
P114 are discussed in the best demonstrated available technology (BOAT)
background document for arsenic and selenium (USEPA 1990a), which is also
being developed for this rulemaking.
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7. CALCULATION OF BOAT TREATMENT STANDARDS
The treatment standard for nonwastewater forms of P113, P115, U214,
U215, U216, and U217 is thermal recovery or stabilization as a method of
treatment. These treatment standards for nonwastewaters are presented in
Table 7-1.
The treatment standard for P113, P115, U214, U215, U216, and U217
wastewaters is 0.14 mg/1, measured as total composition of a 24-hour
composite sample. The thallium wastewater data were from the EPA's
Office of Water. The Office of Water data, the only data available, were
based on 24-hour composite samples. Further information on these data
can be found in the Preamble to the Third Third Land Disposal
Restrictions Final Rule and in the Best Demonstrated Available Technology
(BDAT) Background Document for Wastewaters Containing BOAT List
Constituents (USEPA 1989c). The wastewater treatment standards are
presented in Table 7-2.
The treatment standard for thallium wastewaters was calculated using
a mean of 0.034 and a variability factor of 4.1.
Treatment standard - mean x variability factor
TS - 4.1 x 0.034 - 0.14 mg/1
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Table 7-1 BOAT Treatment Standards for P113, P115,
U214, U215, U216, and U217 Nonwastewaters3
Waste code Treatment standard
P113, P115, U214, THERMAL RECOVERY OR STABILIZATION AS A METHOD
U215, U216, U217 OF TREATMENT
3 Also see the Best Demonstrated Available Technology (BOAT) Background
Document for K031, K084, K101, K102, Characteristic Arsenic Wastes
(D004), Characteristic Selenium Wastes (D010), and P and U Wastes
Containing Arsenic and Selenium Listing Constituents (USEPA 1990a) for
selenium treatment standard for P114.
Table 7-2 BOAT Treatment Standards for P113, P115,
U214, U215, U216, and U217 Wastewaters3
Maximum for any single
24-hour composite sample
Regulated constituent Total composition (mg/1)
Thallium 0.14
a Also see the Best Demonstrated Available Technology (BOAT) Background
Document for K031, K084, K101, K102, Characteristic Arsenic Wastes
(D004), Characteristic Selenium Wastes (D010), and P and U Wastes
Containing Arsenic and Selenium Listing Constituents (USEPA 1990a) for
selenium treatment standard for P114.
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8. REFERENCES
APHA, AWWA, and WPCF. 1985. American Public Health Association, American
Water Works Association, and Water Pollution Control Federation.
Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. 16th ed.
Washington, D.C.: American Public Health Association.
HWTC. 1989a. Hazardous Waste Treatment Council. Data submission on
thallium in response to proposed rule, EPA Docket Number LD12-00050.
HWTC. 1989b. Hazardous Waste Treatment Council. Data submission in
thallium in response to proposed rule, EPA Docket Number LD12-00067.
Mellor, J.W. 1946. A comprehensive treatise on inorganic and
theoretical chemistry. Volume 5, pp. 434-463. London: Longmans Green.
SRI. 1989. Stanford Research Institute. 1989 Directory of chemical
producers, United States of America. Menlo Park, Calif.: Stanford
Research Institute.
U.S. Bureau of Mines. 1988. 1987 Minerals yearbook. Volume I: Metals
and minerals. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Bureau of Mines.
USEPA. 1982. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid
Waste and Hazardous Materials. Development document for effluent
limitations guidelines and pretreatment standards for the inorganic
chemicals manufacturing point source category. Washington, D.C.: U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
USEPA. 1986a. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1986 National
survey of hazardous waste treatment, storage, disposal and recycling
facilities. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
USEPA. 1986b. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1986 National
survey of hazardous waste generators. Washington, D.C.: U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
USEPA. 1988a. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid
Waste. Best demonstrated available technology (BOAT) background
document for F006. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency.
USEPA. 1988b. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid
Waste. Generic quality assurance project plan for Land Disposal
Restrictions Program ("BOAT"). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency.
USEPA. 1989a. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid
Waste. Methodology for developing BOAT treatment standards.
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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USEPA. 1989b. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid
Waste. Treatment technology background document. Washington, D.C.:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
USEPA. 1989c. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid
Waste. Best demonstrated available technology (BOAT) background
document for wastewaters containing BOAT list constituents.
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
USEPA. 1990. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid
Waste. Best demonstrated available technology (BOAT) background
document for K031, K084, K101, K102, characteristic arsenic wastes
(D004), characteristic selenium wastes (D016), and P and U wastes
containing arsenic and selenium listing constituents: Final.
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Versar. 1989. Documentation of telephone communication between
E. Rissmann, Versar Inc., and J. Berish, Harshaw Filtrol, Solon, Ohio.
Weast, R.C., ed. 1989. CRC handbook of chemistry and physics.
70th ed. Cleveland: CRC Press Inc.
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