FIELD TECHNIQUES--Return of Spent Mercury and Dichromate Ampoules to the National Water Quality Laboratory In Reply Refer To: July 16, 1992 Mail Stop 412 OFFICE OF WATER QUALITY TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM 92.11 Subject: FIELD TECHNIQUES--Return of Spent Mercury and Dichromate Ampoules to the National Water Quality Laboratory The National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) has established a service to dispose of spent or broken ampoules that contained either: (a) mercuric chloride, or (b) potassium dichromate preservatives. Provision of this service arose from requests for assistance from Water Resources Division (WRD) Districts, and is intended to help Districts comply with stricter federal and local regulations associated with hazardous waste disposal. The NWQL uses disposal procedures that are approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and that conform to regulations required by permitting agencies in the State of Colorado, Fruitdale Sanitation District, and the Denver Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation District. This NWQL ampoule-disposal service pertains only to spent ampoules that contain mercuric chloride or potassium dichromate residuals; ampoules containing other chemical preservatives are to be disposed of by WRD District personnel. Office of Water Quality (OWQ) Technical Memorandum 90.01 provides ampoule disposal instructions that can be used for spent ampoules containing preservatives other than mercuric chloride or potassium dichromate. The minute preservative residual remaining on the inner walls of the spent mercuric chloride or potassium dichromate ampoule is considered hazardous by definition of 40CFR Part 261. The residuals must not be discharged into the sewer and ampoules must not be thrown in the dumpster. These practices are unacceptable with local sewer regulations and solid waste disposal sites. Cost of the NWQL ampoule-disposal service is included in the present price of mercuric chloride and potassium dichromate ampoules. Ampoules that contain mercury are to be shipped in 250-milliliter (mL) brown polyethylene bottles (until bottle supplies are exhausted) or glass bottles. Ampoules that contain chromium may be shipped in 500-mL or 1-liter brown polyethylene or glass bottles. The shipping bottles can contain many spent ampoules; however, do not crush the ampoules in the shipping bottles. Procedures for returning spent mercuric chloride and potassium dichromate ampoules to NWQL are detailed below: 1. DISPOSAL OF SPENT AMPOULES--Broken ampoules that will be disposed of by the NWQL must be stored and shipped according to the instructions outlined in this memorandum. To reiterate, this pertains only to mercuric chloride ampoules or potassium dichromate ampoules. Both parts of the spent ampoule--tip and body--are to be stored in tightly closed brown polyethylene sample bottles or in wide-mouth glass screw-cap Mason jars. Mercury and chromium ampoules may NOT be stored or shipped in the same storage bottle. Ampoules are NOT to be crushed or broken into smaller fragments. Bottles that contain more than one type of ampoule or that contain crushed ampoules will be returned to the sender. 2. STORAGE OF SPENT MERCURIC CHLORIDE AMPOULES--Broken mercuric chloride ampoules are to be stored separately from other ampoules in the 250-mL brown polyethylene bottles commonly used for nutrient samples or glass (Mason jar) sample containers, and must be clearly marked "MERCURY AMPOULES". Mercury ampoule containers must be capped securely after each ampoule is disposed to prevent potential escape of mercury vapors. Mercury ampoule containers must be stored in an airtight container such as a steel disposal can, and the can must be place in an area designated and labeled "MERCURY ACCUMULATION AREA". The accumulation area must be isolated from environmental or quality-control samples, deionized water, and routine human contact. 3. STORAGE OF SPENT POTASSIUM DICHROMATE AMPOULES--Broken potassium dichromate ampoules are to be stored separately from other ampoules in white (translucent) polyethylene sample bottles that are clearly marked "CHROMIUM AMPOULES". As these are 10-mL ampoules, they may be stored in 500-mL or 1-liter bottles. Chromium ampoule containers must be capped securely between ampoule disposal and be kept in an area designated and labeled "CHROMIUM ACCUMULATION AREA". The accumulation area must be isolated from environmental or quality control samples, deionized water, and routine human contact. 4. PACKING AND SHIPPING OF AMPOULE CONTAINERS--Prior to shipping, the cap on each broken-ampoule container must be tightened firmly and taped, either with duct tape, clear plastic (laboratory quality) tape, or electrical tape. Please note that fiber tape is not acceptable. (A) PACKING--Ampoule containers should be double-bagged in trash bags with packing material, but containers labeled "MERCURY AMPOULES" must be bagged separately from containers labeled "CHROMIUM AMPOULES". (B) SHIPPING--Ampoule containers are to be shipped in containers that have been dedicated and labeled for this purpose. Top and sides of shipping containers for mercury and (or) chromium ampoule containers must be boldly marked "BROKEN AMPOULES" and sent to Carlos Arozarena, Safety Officer, National Water Quality Laboratory. It is not permissible under any circumstances for a container used for shipping spent ampoules to be used concurrently or subsequently for carting or shipping environmental samples, deionized or distilled water, or any field equipment. 5. LABORATORY RECEIVING PROCEDURE FOR SPENT AMPOULES--Broken ampoules will be received by the login section of the NWQL. The login section will contact the lab waste control officer for appropriate storage, pretreatment and disposal of the spent ampoules. The waste control officer will use the analytical services request form to maintain records of the broken ampoule containers received. The following information must be completed on the request form: (a) Station Name or Field Office, (b) Project code, (c) Collector, (d) phone number, (e) year/month/day, (f) State code, (g) District User Code, then Records 5 and 6 - Comments--provide any pertinent background information. In the Laboratory Use Only block write: "MERCURY AMPOULES" or "CHROMIUM AMPOULES" respectively. Also include the total number of shipped bottles at the bottom of the form. If there are any questions regarding these procedures, contact the NWQL Safety Office, Carlos Arozarena (303-467-8035). NOTE: DO NOT send elemental mercury inside the bottles, it will interfere with the pretreatment procedure. David A. Rickert Chief, Office of Water Quality Key words: mercury, mercuric chloride, chromium, potassium dichromate, ampoule disposal. This memorandum supplements OWQ Technical Memorandum 90.01. Distribution: A, B, S, FO, PO