MDI Transportation Guidelines - Polyurethanes - American ...

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MDI transportation g u i d e l i n e s Ingestion In the event MDI is ingested, have the affected person drink large amounts (i.e., 2-3 glasses) of water or milk, do not induce vomiting. Immediately transport to a medical facility and inform medical personnel about the nature and extent of the exposure. Note to Physician: There is no specific antidote for MDI. Care should be supportive and treatment based on the judgment of the physician in response to the reaction of the patient. Post-incident checks are needed. 2.7 Disposal Disposal of Waste MDI MDI is not a listed hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The easiest and most convenient way to dispose of waste MDI is to react it with waste polyol to produce a low-quality foam, which can then be sold or used as a manufactured product. However, if the foam is to be disposed of, it must be done in full compliance with all federal, state and local regulations and requirements governing the disposal of such materials. It is generally agreed that neither MDI nor the foam products produced from it possess the characteristics of a hazardous waste. Thus, according to the federal regulations, low quality foams produced by reacting waste MDI with waste polyol may be discarded or disposed of as a non-hazardous waste. However, it should also be noted that state regulations may have stricter requirements than federal regulations. In short, some states may consider MDI to be a hazardous waste. Be sure, therefore, to check with the appropriate state regulatory agencies before disposing of waste MDI or MDI-based polyurethane foams. (CAUTION: The MDI/polyol reaction is exothermic, which may cause spontaneous combustion.) Another way to dispose of waste MDI is to react the material with a liquid decontaminant. The waste MDI should be added slowly or in increments, under mechanical stirring, to the decontaminant, which should be contained in an open-top drum. (Note: Be sure this process is conducted in a well ventilated area or outdoors.) Allow the reacted material to stand for 48 hour to permit evolved carbon dioxide to escape. Finally, the liquid should be decanted and both the solid and liquid products disposed of in accordance with all relevant federal, state and local regulation. Again, since MDI is not a RCRA listed hazardous waste, such treatment does not require a federal permit. Also, according to federal regulations, the resulting product may be disposed of as non-hazardous waste. However, state and local regulation may be more stringent. Disposal of Empty Containers Drums and IBC’s destined for a scrap dealer, an incinerator, or a landfill should be decontaminated, then punctured or crushed to prevent reuse. (Note: Empty MDI drums and IBCs can be decontaminated by filling them with water or a decontamination solution (5-10% sodium carbonate) and allowing them to stand unsealed for at least 48 hours. Used decontamination solution and rinse water should be disposed of as non-hazardous wastes in strict accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.) There are five acceptable procedures for disposing of drums or IBCs that have contained MDI. They may be sent to: • a reconditioner for reuse, • a scrap metal dealer, • incinerated in an approved facility, • processed for material reclamation, or, • an approved landfill. 6 Copyright 2001, American Plastics Council
MDI transportation g u i d e l i n e s Regardless of the procedure used, however, all drums should be empty (as defined by RCRA, 40 CFR § 261.7) before they leave the MDI user’s facility. (4) (Note: Drums to be sent to a reconditioner may also need to be decontaminated. However, since reconditioners use a variety of different techniques to clean drums and to prepare them for reuse, the MDI user should consult with the reconditioner before using any drum decontamination procedure.) WARNING: Under no circumstances should empty drums be burned or cut open with a gas or electric torch, as toxic decomposition products may be liberated. 2.8 Recommended Formulations for Decontaminant Solutions Formulation 1 Weight or Volume % Water 90-95 15-20% concentrated ammonia 1 solution 3-8 Liquid detergent 0.2-5 Formulation 2 Weight or Volume % Water 90-95 Sodium carbonate 5-10 Liquid detergent 0.2-2 Formulation 3 Weight or Volume % An alcohol (ethanol, isopropanol or butanol) 50 Water 45 15-20% concentrated ammonia 1 solution 5 Formulation 4 Use Tergitol formulation 1 Care should be taken when handling ammonia since it is a hazardous material. (4) According to 40 CFR § 261.7, an empty container is one that is “drip dry”—i.e., one that has been emptied of all materials which can be removed using the practices commonly employed to remove materials from that type of container; e.g., pouring, pumping, or aspirating. (Note that the “one inch” residue rule for determining whether a drum is empty applies only to non-flowable products, such as very viscous resins.) Copyright 2001, American Plastics Council 7
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