f.U •~. ,.:.;;. ,., n LOC;r\ ~~v"-~!C~ l_iu;~i.. -\; ·~\' gli~tib'\1l US D 101.2:B 29/9 Uf\llVERSrT'l AT BUFFALO MOISI, TAE.AfED AlA TO A1WOSPHEAE .~ ·MAR 111993 COCUMENTS DEPOS!TOHY LIBiiAFiY 0433 LINE fAOM IASIN f LIQUIDS TANK The U.S. Army has screened and. , evaluated alternatives to treat hazardous wastes in Basin F liquids at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, near Co11111erce City, Co1 or ado. The contaminants of concern include organic compounds {including byproducts of munitions and chemical warfare agent and pesticide manufacturing) and metals. After screening numerous alternatives, the Army chose the five most promising for detailed evaluation. As a prerequisite, all five a1 ternat ives had to meet a11 relevant state and federal laws, tncludtng safety standards and air emissions controls. On-stte and NOT TO SCALE off-site a 1 ternatives were screened. CONCEPTUAL In keeping wtth preferences in the Federal law for on-site treatment to avoid potential risks involved with SUBMERGED QUENCH INCINERATION transporting hazardous waste, it was WITH SPRAY DRYING assumed that the alternatives would be located on RMA property. This Fact Sheet, which describes the sua.erged Quench Incinerator, ts one in the series of five. To learn how the public can obtain more information about the Army's work at the Arsenal, please see the companion EPA Fact Sheet, Rocky Mountain Arsenal Basin F Directory. THE SUB"ERGED QUENCH INCINERATOR Hov it Works What Is Needed What Would Be Produced The submerged quench incineration To operate the submerged During and after the process,process uses a vertical downfired submerged quenched incinerator, a certain hazardous substances wouldliquid incinerator. The liquid to facility would be built at the be produced. The Army would handlebe incinerated 1s injected at the Arsenal, and operational supplies these products (listed below) in the top of the furnace a1ong with a would be brought in. The equipment following ways: supplementary fuel. Burning th~, and supplies needed are listed Gaseous e~~tssions: The gases, liquid at high temperature (about below: which waul d include a mixture of1900.F} would destroy the organic -The incinerator with quench oxides of nitrogen, would be passed compounds in Basin F liquid almost chuber through air pollution control completely. After incineration, the -Air pollution control devices. Exhaust gases released tohot gases are forced downward and -Various heat exchangers, storage the atmosphere from this process cooled in a liquid quench tanlc, to vessels, pumps, and fans waul d meet government standards. To aid in washing out particulates and A separate building of modest assure this, emissions would be cleaning the gas stream. The high size (100 feet by 100 feet by 40 continuously monitored. Air temperatures would melt feet high) typically would be needed pollution equipment would includenoncombustible components of the for a furnace of this type and safeguards to shut down the processBasin F liquids, producing molten related equipment. It would be in case of malfunction. salts which would flow down the built specifically to house the Dried salts: These materials, walls of the incinerator and also be furnace and equipment. containing metals, could be disposedcooled in the quench chamber. The 26 rail cars (200,000 pound in a hazardous waste landfill.brine from this process could either capacity each) per year of sodilDbe spray dried to produce a salt, or hydroxide, a caustic compound usedthe brine could be shipped off-site in the air pollution control TREATEO AIR TO for further treatment and disposal. process. ATI.IOSPHERE . Submerged quench incineration is an enclosed system; a flow sheet for this process is shown on the last page of this fact sheet. Advantages and Disadvantages THE SUBMERGED QUENCH INCINERATOR: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES All five alternatives were evaluated against criteria established by the U.S. EPA. The five key criteria are described below: Reduction of Toxicity, Mobility, or Yollllle: The intent of this requirement is that the hazardous portions of the wastes should be reduced or destroyed; the ability of the wastes to move through the 1 • environment should be 1imi ted or halted; or the overall quantity of wastes containing hazardous materials should be reduced. l•plementabiltty: This requirement focuses on whether the alternative has been proven in other situations and ts commercially available. Mini•tzation of on-or off-site transport, and off-site disposal of hazardous aaterial: To reduce the risk of traffic accidents involving , hazardous materials, this factor seeks to limit the amount of wastes and the distance that the wastes would be transported, either on-or off-site. It also seeks to limit the practice of moving hazardous waste from one locality to another. Community protection: This factor focuses on protecting the community from hazards that may result during the remedy -or afterwards. Reasonableness of cost: Finally, the costs, both of implementing the remedy and subsequent operation and maintenance, are compared among alternatives. No alternative was considered unless it could meet all applicable or relevant and appropriate regulations. The submerged quench incinerator has certain advantages and disadvantages which are spelled out below. CRITERIA: Reduction of Toxicity, Mobility, or Volume {THY) A minimum of 99.99 percent of organics destroyed. Metals remain in salt or brine. Volume of salt reduced to 10 percent of original; volume of brine as original but less hazardous. same Implementability Proven experience at many other sites. strated to work on Basin F liquids. Process demon Minimization of Onor Off-Site Transport, Off-Site Disposal of Hazardous Material Moderate quantities of caustic compound shipped and stored on-site. Small quantity of salt or larger volume of brine shipped off-site. Community Protection Small potential for off-site impact. w Reasonableness of Cost Compared to the other alternatives, the submerged quench incinerator is the least costly alternative. Item Estimated Cost (millions of $) Capital Cost Operation and Maintenance ESTIMATED PROJECT TOTAL $ 9.3 ~ $19.1 0q IIIII ~llli~~j~~ijUI~ilm~iimfil]~lii~ijIIIII 3 9072 01896344 1 .,. ,., ... '·'·· .... :··· '·. ' h.