vvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
DIRECTIVE NUMBER: 9443.02(84)
TITLE:
Regulatory Status of Spent and/or Discarded Lithium-Sulfur Dioxide
(Li/S02) Batteries
APPROVAL DATE: 3-7-84
EFFECTIVE DATE: 3-7-84
ORIGINATING OFFICE:
0 FINAL
of Solid Waste
D DRAFT
STATUS:
[ ] A- Pending OMB approval
{ j B- Pending AA-OSWER approval
[ ] C- For review &/or comment
[ ] D- .In development or circulating
headquarters
REFERENCE (other documents):
OSWER OSWER OSWER
/£ DIRECTIVE DIRECTIVE Di
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PART 261 SUBPART C - CHARACTERISTICS
DOC: 9443.02(84)
Key Words:
Regulations:
Subject:
Addressee:
Originator:
Source Doc:
Date:
Summary:
Batteries, Reactive Waste
40 CFR 261.23, 262-266, 124, 270, 271
Regulatory Status of Spent and/or Discarded Lithium-Sulfur Dioxide
(Li/S02> Batteries
Dick Bruner, Executive Director, Technical and Logistics Services,
Defense Logistics Agency, Cameron Station, Alexandria, VA 22314
Lee M. Thomas, Assistant Administrator
#9443.02(84)
3-7-84
Lithium-sulfur dioxide batteries exhibit the characteristic of reactivity
as defined in 40 CFR §261.23. Handlers must therefore comply with all applicable
standards under 40 CFR Parts 262 to 266, and Parts 124, 270, and 271. Sections
264.312 and 265.312 prohibit the landfilling of these reactive wastes unless
they are treated, rendered, or mixed before or immediately after placement in a
landfill so that the resulting material no longer meets the definition of
reactive wastes under §261.23, and unless the general requirements for reactive
wastes contained in §264.17(b) and §265.17(b) have been met.
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bogrtatio* •*rvio««
JUe«a
C* -•
-.. .,
IMir .fev ftrantr*
'
«•!!«• •'•<-.xir Uct, DOO ewr*«tly
o» bojttorios to bo lucardoac «aot»i for ««n*Q««»
r tb» yorpoo* of ttilo'lottos is Hiaply to readtr
opiaioa *» to wb*th*r lit%iv»vb«ftto»io« a
tlw rrnlo* «ro«al9«t«d pttrvoaat to tlM »
t|;'Act of 1§74 t*CXA)f and to
of thoM nloo to tte ••naoovoot ^CUf^r 41cpoMl>
batteries* mm
'm
,•>.-•
latter aopliaa
referred to a«
•C.-v..
thioflf 1 ohlorio* (BOClj), polyc«rtx»n aonofluorio* ((CF)X)7
MingamM dioKid* (HnO2), lodlno (I), •ilvar oxid«
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o* a e«ref»l rsview of the available data
**A baa coaelodod txot UthiuMalfur dloxids
battariss clsarly axhibit the char seteristic of rsactivity as
daf insd in 40 Cn 2«1.23. Baadlara of thess vaataa, anct r
tbsrefors, comply with all ape lieab la standards wadsr 4ft CF* '
Parts 2(2 to 2««, sad 124,:. 279* and 271. Oader tbaao 'standards,
tbs land disposal of rsaotivs va*ta is prohibited unless ths
waste. la trsatad or otherwise rsndsrsd aoo-rsaetiv*> (Ssa
ff2«4.312,and 2*5.312). .*
ftod«r 49 cnt.2«i>«>3> » soUd vasts is consider ad to ,
b« rsactivs if a rsprsssntativs csa^l» s>f tits wasts has any
of ths following props rtissf - ' - . ..j..'.v;. .
It is ooraally ttnstab Is and rsadi ly nadsrgos s violsnt
Changs t.hoot dstonating^
" '
(2) Hi resets violent IT vitl watsr.
' " '~'f'
ffc. forms potsntiatly'sxplosi'vs •ixtvrss
MhSB siixsd «ith watST"» \t gsnsrstss toxic gsass« vapors,
or finssa in a goaatlty avffieiant to orsssnt a danosr to
amsin baa It h or. ths" snvirosjssnt •
(5) Xt i* i cyanlda or sulf ids osaring waits whlcKr whsn
•xpossd to pa condition* bstwsoa 2 and 12.5 r can gsnsrata
toxic gasss, >aporSf or fcusss in s quantity smffieisnt to
orsssnt a daoosr to huass baa 1th or ths snvir
-It is eapablo (af^dst ©nation or sxplosivs rsaet ios, it tt
is «K9 jsetsd to.a strooa ialtiatiJia so«rc« ^«c if hsatad onds«
ciocf inaxont. -
•••*
,it la rsadlly eapabla of oatonationor ax»losU»
dscoxpositlofi or rsaet low a% ataadard. toxoorattirs a«d orss«ur«.
|i) ^,TV,1* a forbiddsn STplosivs as oaf inse in- 4« CFt 173,53
~ "
Xtos lithium in tt/SOj eslls will for* ootantlally sxplosiW
hydrogsn gas whsn aixsd with watsr (f 261.23(«) ( 3)), and L1/SO2 _.
calls srs cspabls of violant rupturs or rsaetion if subjectad to
a strong Initiating source or if hsatsd.undsr confinement
(§261.23(a)(€)). However, of primary concern is ths potential/
under existing managenent practices, for components of the batteries
to generate toxic gases, vapors, or fumes in a quantity sufficient
to present a danger to toman health or the environment when those
components are mixed with water or exposed to certain pH conditions
(S261.23(a)(4) and (a)(5M.
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to s strong init let Ing eoeree or heated emdsr
oontiaamsncV ;1t»idai»ts of, viols at ooU rvpturese jparticvlarly
«f «mlla <*Ttha sabalancetT daslgn/ beve been docaasata* ' -
i* .* «o
c«ptur»»
»
in
strip* "
lithium metal, aa tha aaoea as. mail as' a- non' aqeaoes electro lyta
tr at Ions of aoetoaltrlle t CB}Cft%and 'a llt&lom salt* typically ,;-'.
iithlsm bromide (tlBr)» Uthinm is ftaov* to raaot vith vatar to
produca potentially avplosivs hydrogoa gasv Althoogh Uthitam '-
bsttary calls sro constructed soeh that thai* reactive eomponaata
do not acdloarlly eoma Into contact with vatar ondar normal ~,
cperatlag ooadit&oas^ if plaee€ ia s^ landf ill, or otherwiaa •••••-'
Improperly manaoed* those battarlaa vill avantaally oorrods and
allov their reaotive conatlteaata to coma into contact vithvatar.
TOe react Iva nature of lithium Is of part lev torconcern since
sebetaotial quant It la a of partially dlaeharged cells or cells of
the anbslaneed> or eceeaa lithium type, are often diapeaedef
togethar. The Agency botlaeea that andar a«latlag management
JraottooSfr ll«e«a etorsce in drvma or disposal of batteriaa is
dramoT* potanttally explosive concantratIons of hydrogoa gas -
might reasonably bo expects* to oc««r (2€1.23(a)(2) )•
-.-—-. Tba Aga ner also bo llavee that t he praot ioe be aoceamlat ing'
largo qaantltles of LI/80Y batteries conld ra'oalfc- In eoneantratlona ",
present a danger to nenaa haalth or tha savironmant. ^'As nantlonad
previously r^naeec Uthlom bettary celle are dnsignad to ntomntl*
sally vent 9On andv other ctjaponaeta to tha air to mialmlna ths
possibility of exploeion d«w to presstnra vhes tae cells are
OKpoeed to axtaraai haat or start clreeitimg* Omring oporaeioaa.
smoh as eollectioo, processing r and disposal^ ths barter lea may
bo oxjosed to> rnntfia nisei shoo ft •: snort oir emit ing, fmnsrslon in "
in^ar oc penetTStioa^ thaaa eperatione are liksly to caeaa
soils to rmptsre and/or vent t hair reactive ma tar la la In potantUlly
dangaroas eoneentrstions if venting or. ruptsre occurs in s confInad
area or if significant numbers of cells ara Involved, sulfur
die*Ids Is a strong Irritant and la capable of causing incapacltatlon
at concentrations above 50 ppm and haa provan to be llfa-thraatenlng
at concentrations of 400-500 ppm* Zn addition* acetositrila
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l»£il:, daeoaj>o*o to jt&*A^;wj^^*™™ *^* ,*+**•** ;£ltw»ai
'lftaj£ roai^n^wttll',acatonitrit*' toVa/tfodoce' H^ittsrcyaaido , tl^CiO y
aftioav ffc totra*** react with, waa* aolda to produca toxic hydrocyanic
--••"•--•- - - ••-= r- >f,,ibi^£;;«* woXI . ' "
bo ovp+ctod ..toX
•**•> **«otiwvco«(KM»nt« ** **••• batter iaa>ar« exposed
to water ••'oT^aotdlfl.condition d^vit^^lUotLo«;. ^rQo*«miii9> or-
illaDoeal----- .... - -
by a lira ft tha Qrotoa
•oint Laadfill' in Qrotoa, conaaetlcat on April '20V 19§I^r la that
Incident* a nanber of dnuo off lithiasj-avlfwr dtox^ld* batteries,
ohiea ware lnpr«parly handled, ea*gat firo doa either to,short
firoiiitiaa or contact with BoLatvr** ?*a rlra resulted fo a
ir of wiolant rupturea aa wall aa tha generation of toxic --
i and f«a»e -which pooad a haxard to povaonnal conbafelno, the ,
M battarr ^oaU»- dapand*»po« » larga
• tba 4j*aot Ity of calla" ademalatod l» ona iocatCot)
of Jtho ealla
. ». .u.>. -,
« tM troeodisra* tiaad la •torlag^
or otharvlaa handUno apanc or dlaoardad bat tar U a.
*- tuo prta^Utity of ^arltor^o^AJi^ oaoaral
" --.--•
Baa to tha variable aatwro of the hasarda poaad "by lithium
barteriaa ««der difforaat eonditiona* tha Agency had
. _ ^ • ^^ A. * *_ * -^ . —. ^ — ' —. ^ ^ _ ^^
t^ waa'
faaaible to estafillsh aecvaulatlon la vela
wJOeh o^antltiea oi llthivm battariaa woo Id not t»a cokaioarad
raactlve and, the refora, not aybjoet' to tan haaardova-
r«9«latioaa, Bowa«
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leg «3 par sontb of haxardou* waste or eeeuaulate aora than •;
hf» of such *ssta at aoy.tise-Jf loverer* you should be
r that vt» a calculating tha ouan* It y of vast a generated for
purposes of asaeesing eawll quantity generator et*tue, all hazardous
'vUBjejtas frbai all aourcaa that ara genarated at ;a particular sitaj/
•ffe;va oaa~*oath period or which sro sccusjalatad over any pariod
of * law BNtat be counted. «ou should also ba aware that Congress
is currently c one i daring aaa advent a to K*A that would lover the
ill quantity generator ezeaption lavul to 100 kg. •
«•
•aotionad pravioaaly, tha practical af fact of tha
Aoaacy'a concluaioa that lithivai battariaa ara raaotiva waataa
la that raguiatad quant It iaa of thaaa battariaa aay not ba
dlapoaad of at •oat hazardous waata la ad disposal faoilitiaa.
•actiona 2«4.311 and 2<3«312 prohibit landfilliag of raactiva
vaataa oAlaaa thay ara traatadv randarad^ or vixad aveh that
thay no lonoar amhiblt tha char actor istic of ra activity and
tho aaoaral raquircwnts tax raacti^fr «astas eoetaiaad
ft«4.17(b) aj>d 9€S^17(b) ha^a boon •t
•'• -'** * "Y '' -'^'-••- •'»
^
if you haw* any questions about tha inforvatlofi contafnad
— — » - ^ • • --"- •— ' ' '^.''''v-*.- -'
ct atthar .' ^;--
at t2W) 1B3-47C2.
lii tals latter, plaaaa do sot haaitata to oootact oithsr
ffraaclaa Jacof f or Robert Axalrad, of uy sti
Slncaraly yours,
Aaaiataat Administrator
•
hazardoua' waatea are aubjact to a 1 kg, r—_
laval for quant it ias generated is a ona^uonth pariod or accujsu-
latad* over say pariod of tisa. As. a characteriat ic hazardous
'•'. Jr* * • "* - "- - ,-•' " * "*'-""- '*- -" - - f'.-- '' *
• ;, ^.,; t -.,.. ,- • - •-..-• - : :-.--.--... '•-, i -
i/See f2<0.10 definitions for ^individual generation site* and
•on-site*. .
ccs [Copies will ba sant to aanufacturars/ahippera and
other known users of Li/SO2 batteries]
WH-562«BAxelradtRaS-2401x5218:1/27/84;
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