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