liquid waste disposal

[Steven Hand <SHAND%UMDACC.bitnet@vmd.cso.uiuc.edu>]

From: shand


At UMCP we used to store the full carboys on plywood shelves but
they became difficult to handle - at 40 pounds each and 3 deep -
the other problem that presented itself as an unwanted surprise
was the cracking and breaking of the carboys after they were only
two years old.  This presented too many problems of contamination
and so each carboy was thoroughly inpsected prior to dispersal to
the campus community for use.

On the subject of pH, yes they were always tested by personnel
at the waste facility - at first bicarb and hydroxide was added
to change the pH, but later the carboys were returned to the labs
where pH was adjusted by the user - now pH is monitored by the
labs to insure that the waste may be picked up when the carboy
is full, no one likes to have the waste returned to their lab
for treatment - again this question of treatment.

A third item - the storage location of the carboys is surrounded by
a 6 inch lip to prevent any liquid from escaping in case a carboy
spilled - this wasn't good enough for the inspectors so now the
carboys are kept in plastic tubs with 15 inch high walls - 3 carboys
to a tub - overkill ?

If storage becomes a problem - can waste be consolidated to larger
plastic drums such as 30 or 55 poly drums - we have used these in the
past and utilized a power pump to remove the contents - saves space
and the drums can be handled easily with rollers for moving to the
sewer pit for disposal.

steve hand
university of maryland college park