ChemCat Training (How It Works) Part II

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ChemCat Training / Hawkins Environmental / email: chemist.environmental@gmail.com
“Hands-on” CHEMCAT Training
Part II
How It Works …
Presented by
James D. Hawkins
Hawkins Environmental
chemist.environmental@gmail.com

Ever respond to an incident like this … ?
Lake City, FL - Acid Tanker Explosion
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HAZMAT responses are an
ever-present danger to the first
responder. Not being to
evaluate a situation puts not
only yourself but your team
members at risk.
ChemCat© System skills will
provide you with essential
categorization skills.
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Firefighters spraying water
& chemicals on a burning
fuel tanker.

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30 Bulk Produced Hazardous Chemicals
… any one could be released during a Hazmat incident
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Acetic Acid
Acetone
Ammonia
Ammonium sulfate
Ammonium nitrate
Benzene
Butadiene
Calcium chloride
Carbon black
Carbon dioxide
Ethylbenzene
Ethylene glycol
Formaldehyde
Hydrochloric acid
Isopropanol
Lime
Methanol
Methyl t-butyl ether
Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)
Nitric Acid
Phosphoric acid
Potash
Sodium silicate
Sodium hydroxide
Sodium sulfate
Styrene
Sulfuric acid
Titanium dioxite
Toluene
Xylene

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What is a Hazardous Waste?
EPA definition: per “Federal 40 CFR Part 261 Subpart C”
Classification #1 - It either is or contains a listed waste.
Classification #2 - It demonstrates any of the following hazardous
characteristics.
Reactivity (R) Unstable or violent reaction w/ water
or is either a cyanide or a sulfide.
Corrosivity (C) Liquid w/ pH ≤2 or pH ≥ 12.5
liquid which corrodes steel @ 0.25”/year.
Ignitability (I) Flashes < 140 oF or flammable solid / oxidizer.
EP Toxic (EP) Leach/migrate if improperly disposed in a landfill.
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Classification #3
“It is otherwise capable of causing
environmental or health damage if
improperly disposed ”.
… placing the burden of proof on the generator who Is obligated
to ensure that a waste not meeting Classification #1 or #2 ... in
their judgment (that has the possibility of causing environmental
damage) be handled as to not cause environmental damage.
What is a Hazardous Waste? (continued)
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WASTE also applies to these situations:
•Illegally or Improperly disposed drums
•Substances having no commercial use
• A By-product of an industrial process
Recyclables or “Useful” materials
even though they may exhibit
hazardous properties, are NOT
considered hazardous wastes.
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What is CHEMCAT
©
testing?
CHEMCAT
©
testing is a field expedient method of identifying general
chemical classifications according to accepted EPA criteria.
The basic hazardous waste chemical classifications will be broken
down into eleven categories:
1. Radioactive (DO FIRST)
2. Ignitable
3. Halogen
4. Acid/Base
5. Reactive
6. Peroxide
7. Sulfide
8. Cyanide
9. Organic
10. Base-Neutral
11. Oxidizer (DO LAST)
Many tens of thousands of
Chemicals can be characterized by
using the ChemCat
©
System

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What is beyond the scope of ChemCat©
TAs?
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• Explosives
• Radionuclides
• Plants or animal byproducts
• Medicines
• Experimental Laboratory Chemicals
• Nerve Agents
• Pesticides & Herbicides (some can be
identified by the optional TA #12)
• Bio-hazards

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CHEMCAT
©
analysis in a lab trailer

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Perform a Visual Inspection of the Sample
Does it match what’s on the Sampling Data Sheet ???
Physical State
Solid
Liquid
Gel
Sludge
Color:
1. Amber
2. Black
3. Blue
4. Brown
5. Colorless
6. Cream
7. Dark Brown
8. Dark Red
etc.
Layer
Top
Middle
Bottom
Clarity
Clear
Cloudy
Opaque
Tip: Reference color by number on spreadsheet

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Note: Embedded Macro
Drum Sampling Data Sheet (field data portion)
Radiation
Survey

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Important QC Note
Perform ChemCat© Quality Control (QC) TAs “ON-SITE” for:
Acid/Base/Peroxide/Oxidizer/Halogen/Cyanide/Sulfide
This is very Important: Prior to the TA of any Unknown Materials !!!

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TA #1: Radiation
Required Items: Geiger Counter & Fiestaware “Burnt Orange” Color Pottery
Procedure:
Scan sample from a distance of several inches w/ Geiger
Counter.
A general Rule-of-Thumb a radiation survey is considered
positive when counts are above background levels.
QA/QC: Scan Pottery with Geiger Counter
The instrument will read approximately 70 µSv/hr upon
scanning the pottery.
Record the Background Radiation: This will vary depending upon
your geographic location.

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TA #2: Ignitability
Figure 8. Ignitability
TA#2.
Required Materials: Copper wire, Propane torch & Striker
TA Procedure:
Add small amount sample to Test Tube
To a previously prepared (see above) thin gauge Copper wire -
Coat wire loop w/ sample in Test Tube (NOT in the SAMPLE JAR)
Slowly approach the Flame – Ignitable materials will flash
Procedure to Prepare Copper Wire Loop:
Heat small loop thin copper wire to redness in a
flame & let cool

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TA #3: Halogen
Figure 8.
Halogen
TA#3
Halogens - compound containing chlorine, bromine, iodine or
fluorine. Halogens are toxic. Industrially used as solvents,
degreasers, pesticides and explosives.
Common Halogens: Freon, DCM & Carbon Tetrachloride.
Required Materials: Copper wire, Propane torch & Striker
Procedure:
Add small amount sample to Test Tube
To a previously prepared (see above) thin gauge Copper wire -
Coat wire loop w/ sample in Test Tube (NOT in the SAMPLE JAR)
Place wire loop with sample in the non-luminous area of flame
Note the Flame Color - Green tinge is a Positive TA for Halogen
Procedure to Prepare Copper Wire Loop:
Heat small loop thin copper wire to redness in a
flame & let cool

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Note: Greentint to flame
Chloride will give Green color
Positive Halogen TA #3
QA/QC: Cut a small
piece of wire insulation
and place it inside copper
wire loop. Gently heat
insulation & copper wire
with torch. Carefully
observe flame & note
green tinge to flame,
(Positive Halogen TA)
SAFETY NOTE : Care should be
exercised as oxidizers can flash and
/ or burn vigorously when exposed
to a flame. Make sure the wire is
cool prior to putting it in test tube

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Corrosive ACID pH ≤ 2
Corrosive BASE pH ≥ 12.5
TA #4 : Acid / Base
Solid: Size of a match head
Liquid: Add 5 drops
Fill Test tube ¼ full with water
Gently mix Test tube
Compare pH strip w/ colors on chart
QA/QC: Dip pH strip in pH 4 & 10 buffer/Compare w/ color with that on pH pack
HINT: Decomposed chlorinated solvents can react w/ moisture forming
hydrochloric acid. A low pH may indicate a halogenated solvent.
Figure 9 – pH Strips TA #4
Required Materials: Test tube, pH Strips, and water

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Solubility: Soluble (S) / Partially Soluble (PS) / Insoluble (I)
Density: Heavier (H) / Lighter (L)
Reactivity: Effervescence / Temp. Change (increase or decrease)/Color change
Polymerization - mixture turns to a gel
If liquid, Insoluble, and Heavier than water, it may be a halogen
pH in acid range indicates the presence of a halogen
Beilstein Test (copper wire test) - confirms a halogen
If liquid, Insoluble and Lighter than water, it is probably an Organic
If liquid, Insoluble, Lighter than water, & it burns classify it as an Organic
TA #5: H2O Reactivity
Required Materials: Test tube and water
Liquid: Add 5 drops
Procedure:
Gently Mix Test tube
Figure 10.
Sodium RX w/ H2O

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TA #5: H2O Reactivity
Physical and/or Chemical reaction (examples)
Temp. increase - Acid (Sulfuric acid)
Temp. increase - Base (Sodium hydroxide)
Gas formation - Hydrogen sulfide/ (Sulfide ?)
Violent reactions: pH decrease - Acid
pH increase - Base
Color change after mixing with water
HINT: Solid pesticides dissolved in soapy water
may Change color from white/brown to yellow.

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TA #6: Peroxide
SAFETY NOTE: Never open small chemical bottles since friction may cause a
spark or generate static electricity. Labeled bottles should be inventoried & lab
packed. Unlabeled “laboratory-sized” bottles can be crushed remotely w/ blast shield
equipped track-hoe.
Solid peroxides packaged in small containers or laboratory-sized
bottles or cans. Liquid peroxides (Hydrogen peroxide) packaged in poly
or stainless steel containers.

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Benzoyl peroxide - a fairly common organic peroxide
- produces false negatives on both Oxidizer & Peroxide TAs
Use: Catalyst / Bleaching Agent / Consumer Skin Treatment Product
Peroxides are particularly dangerous compounds & are strong oxidizers.
Peroxides decompose with explosive force when subjected to
friction, shock and/or heat (i.e. opening a bung on a drum or
a lid on a laboratory chemical bottle).
Peroxides are flammable substances that burn more furiously &
intensely than other flammable substances.
With respect to drums of chemicals, if peroxide or peroxide formers (i.e.
alcohols, ketones and ethers) are suspected, perform a TA using a sample of
crystals on the lid or bung with peroxide test strips. Do not touch or scrape
the crystals. Squirt a small amount of water on the bung to dissolve some of
the crystals and then immerse strip in the solution.
Figure 12.
Benzoyl Peroxide
Reaction

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TA #6: Peroxide
Required Materials: Peroxide Strips, and water
Liquid: Add 5 drops
Procedure:
Dip strip in solution for 3 seconds
Blue color change indicates positive for Peroxides
QA/QC: Dip Peroxide strip in 3% Hydrogen peroxide solution
– an immediate dark blue color indicates strip is good.
A slow reaction followed by a light Blue or no color change is an indication the
strips are bad (replace w/ fresh Peroxide strips)
TIP: Store Peroxide strips in the Freezer –
this usually preserves them for several years
or else they may loose their sensitivity.
Figure 5.
Peroxide TA#6.

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TA #7: Sulfide (S -2)
Required Materials: Sulfide Test Strips
SAFETY NOTE: Sulfide salts can generate hydrogen sulfide fumes if exposed to water or acidic
solutions. Hydrogen sulfide, a flammable gas & is more toxic than cyanide gas. Exercise great care
around these materials. Upon excessive exposure to this deadly gas, ones sense of smell will be dulled
and the offensive H2S odor may decrease markedly
Procedure:
Place Sulfide Strip in Sample for 5 sec.
Remove Strip & Shake Strip to remove droplets of sample
Positive Sulfide TA strip reaction turns brown/black
Note: The odor of rotten eggs (H2S) is a preliminary indicator of sulfides
Figure 6
Sulfide TA#7.

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TA #8: Cyanide (CN
-
)
Required Materials: Cyanide TA Strips & test tube
SAFETY NOTE: Cyanides impart a bitter taste to the air called “Bitter Almond”. Traces
cyanide gas can cause headaches & be fatal at high concentrations.
Procedure:
Add 20 drops from “H2O soluble” TA to test tube
Dip Strip #1 in Test tube for 30 seconds
Remove Strip from Test Tube
Insert TA Strip #2 in Test tube for thirty 30 sec.
Remove the test strip & note color change
Positive Cyanide TA strip reaction turns blue
Figure 7
Cyanide TA#8.

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Solubility: Soluble (S) / Partially Soluble (PS) / Insoluble (I)
Density: Heavier (H) / Lighter (L)
Reactivity: Effervescence / Temp. Change (increase or decrease) / Color change
Polymerization - mixture turns to a gel
• Insoluble and more dense than Hexane/DCM, classify as: Halogenated Organic
• Soluble in H2O & Insoluble in Hexane/DCM, classify it as: Inorganic
• Soluble in Hexane/DCM, classify as: Organic
Note: Ignitability Tests may provide further information
TA #9: Organic
(Hexane/DCM* Solubility)
Required Materials: Test tube & Hexane/DCM mixture
Liquid: Add 5 drops
Procedure:
Fill Test tube ¼ full with Hexane/DCM shake Test tube.
* Dichloromethane (DCM)
Figure 8.
Solubility TA #9

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TA #10: Base-Neutral
Base-Neutral is a general classification given to a compound that exhibits negative
TA results to all of the ChemCat©
TAs (with the exception of the water solubility).
A negative TA reaction indicates either and possibly both:
1. None of the tests were the correct ones to indicate its chemical
properties
2. The TA gave a false negative result.
Careful adherence to QA/QC procedures will help eliminate false negatives

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TA #11: Oxidizer
Oxidizer
“a material such as a chlorate, permanganate or nitrate that
yields oxygen, either at ambient conditions or when exposed to heat,
to readily stimulate the combustion of organic matter (i.e. burn).”
Note: Oxidizers may violently react with other oxidizers
Such as: hypochlorites [pool chlorine] & chlorocyauranates [also,
pool chlorine]

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TA #11: Oxidizer
Figure 9.
Oxidizer TA#11.
Required Materials: Ceramic Spot Plate,
Starch-Iodide Strips & White Vinegar
Procedure:
Solids: Use a sample the size of a match head
Liquids: 2 drops
Using the Ceramic Spot Plate:
Place Starch-Iodide strip onto ceramic spot plate
Add 2 drops White Vinegar onto strip
Add 2 drops from the H2O soluble TA onto TA strip
or two drops if sample is a liquid
A Blue-Black color change is positive for an Oxidizer
QA/QC: Add several drops of Oxidizer TA solution to the strip.
A positive reaction is indicated by an immediate blue-black color change

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TA #11: Oxidizer
Note: If a sulfide is present, the odor of rotten eggs will be apparent &
a yellow precipitate may appear.
Common TA color reactions:
Turns black immediately then quickly returns to white: very strong oxidizer
(possibilities: hypochlorites, hypobromites & concentrated Nitric acid.
Turns black or dark purple immediately: strong oxidizer.
Turns blue or dark purple within a few seconds: Potentially very hazardous
chemical (possibilities: certain organic peroxides or metal nitrates).
Turns blue or purple after a certain amount of time: possibly a weak oxidizer
(treat as a negative – some old solvents, radiator fluids or
metal salts can cause a false negative) – treat this as a negative

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TA #12 (optional): Pesticide
Required Materials: TA “Ticket”
Positive Negative
Procedure:
Positive Test: Disc on the Ticket will turns white
Negative Test: Disc remains Blue

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ChemCat Spreadsheet

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ChemCat
©
Training
Part 2:
“Hands-on” CHEMCAT
©
Training
How It Works … the good stuff
James D. Hawkins
(419) 260 – 4447
CHEMIST.ENVIRONMENTAL@GMAIL.COM
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ChemCat Training / Instructor: James Hawkins / email: chemist.environmental@gmail.com / cell (419) 260-4447

ChemCat Training (How It Works) Part II

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