What is the ChemCat© System? ChemCat System is a series of TAs (Test Analysis) designed to quickly & inexpensively identify hazards & characteristics associated unknown & other material. Did you know, out of the total 2013 ERNS (Emergency Response Notification System) top 100 Incidents/Spills in the United States more than 24,400 of 29,200 materials could have been characterized by the ChemCat System? The ChemCat© system can reveal potential reactivity & safety hazards allowing for the segregation & proper procedure development prior to handling. The ChemCat© System was designed & created by James Hawkins in 1993. The System was extensively used by EPA Region IV TAT members in the early 1990’s on Federal Emergency Response Projects throughout the Southeastern United States. Why Use the ChemCat System? ChemCat was created as a tool for ER HAZMAT personnel in the early 1990’s: • Quickly Determine Reactive Characteristics of Hazardous Materials • Reveal Safety Hazards allowing for proper mitigation handling • Uses EPA approved & very mature classic wet chemistry techniques • Not dependent upon expensive batteries & Factory-calibrated delicate electronic “Black Box” technology • QA/QC is built into the TA (Test Analysis) System – “GO-NO GO” • Simple one page “field instructions” – precludes the complicated flowcharts used by others • Requires very minimal training for competent personnel • 100% of the ChemCat system is used during the TA process (no extra expensive seldom-used supplies)

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CHEMCAT© System
By
Hawkins
Environmental
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ChemCat Training / Hawkins Environmental / email: chemist.environmental@gmail.com

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ChemCat Training / Hawkins Environmental / email: chemist.environmental@gmail.com
CHEMCAT© is a copyright adopted by Hawkins Environmental, Inc. on June 23, 1993.
CHEMCAT© Form & CHEMCAT© Testing Procedure © #05888025 (TXu000577228)
adopted on June 23, 1993.
All Rights Reserved.
Copyright © July 15, 1995 by Hawkins Environmental, Inc.
No part of the book, “CHEMCAT© Training Manual”, slide presentation, ChemCat Testing Form may be
reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means; electronic, mechanical, including photocopying,
recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written permission of James D.
Hawkins.
For information, contact:
Hawkins Environmental, Inc.
Toledo, Ohio
E-mail chemist.environmental@gmail.com
IMPORTANT
SIMPLY BECAUSE A SERIES OF CHEMCAT© TAs (TEST ANALYSES) ARE NEGATIVE, IS NOT MEANT TO
IMPLY THAT THE SUBSTANCE IS NON-HAZARDOUS. FOR EXAMPLE: PESTICIDES CAN YIELD
NEGATIVE CHEMCAT© RESULTS BUT WILL STILL BE CLASSIFIED AS BASE-NEUTRAL SOLIDS. TREAT
UNKNOWN CHEMICALS WITH RESPECT. WEAR THE PROPER PROTECTIVE GEAR WHEN WORKING
WITH HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES. ALWAYS ASSUME THAT AN UNKNOWN IS TOXIC AND TREAT IT
ACCORDINGLY.
DISCLAIMER
THESE FIELD TAs WILL AID DURING THE IDENTIFICATION OF UNKNOWN CHEMICALS. PRIOR TO
USING THE CHEMCAT© SYSTEM, THE TECHNICIAN MUST HAVE A BASIC WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF
CHEMISTRY. ALSO, PRIOR TO USING THE CHEMCAT© SYSTEM, TO CLASSIFY UNKNOWN
MATERIALS, THE TECHNICIAN WILL HAVE DEMONSTRATED AND WILL HAVE DOCUMENTED
PROFICIENCY / COMPENTENCY WITH REGARD TO USING THE CHEMCAT© SYSTEM.
©1993 Hawkins Environmental, Inc. (© TXu000577228)

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the CHEMCAT
©
System?
“ … a systematic method to quickly, accurately &
inexpensively characterize thousands of unknown
materials”.
1. Radioactive
2. Ignitable
3. Halogen
4. Acid/Base
5. Reactive
6. Peroxide
7. Sulfide
8. Cyanide
9. Organic
10.Base-Neutral
11.Oxidizer

4. Haz Waste Sites … Why?
• Abandoned
• Mismanaged
• Illegally Dumped
• Fires
• Natural Disasters
• Ignorance of the law
• Financial Difficulties
ChemCat Training / Hawkins Environmental / email: chemist.environmental@gmail.com
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5. Lake City, Florida - Chemical Tanker Acid Spill
ChemCat Training / Hawkins Environmental / email: chemist.environmental@gmail.com
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You may encounter this …
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ChemCat Training / Hawkins Environmental / email: chemist.environmental@gmail.com

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ChemCat Training / Hawkins Environmental / email: chemist.environmental@gmail.com

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ChemCat Training / Hawkins Environmental / email: chemist.environmental@gmail.com

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ChemCat Training / Hawkins Environmental / email: chemist.environmental@gmail.com

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Note: Sample Number
(5882)
Note: Lab Control Number
(24)
Sample ID
ChemCat Training / Hawkins Environmental / email: chemist.environmental@gmail.com

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ChemCat Training / Hawkins Environmental / email: chemist.environmental@gmail.com
Samples ready for TAs

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Green tint
Positive Halogen (TA#3)
ChemCat Training / Hawkins Environmental / email: chemist.environmental@gmail.com

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ChemCat Training / Hawkins Environmental / email: chemist.environmental@gmail.com
Drum Sheet

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ChemCat Training / Hawkins Environmental / email: chemist.environmental@gmail.com

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ChemCat Training / Hawkins Environmental / email: chemist.environmental@gmail.com

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7 Months later - ($3.5 Million)
250,000 Liters & 375,000 Kg
3,000 CHEMCAT TAS