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SOLUTION TO MANUFACTURERS HAZARDOUS WASTE POSES PROBLEM FOR ANALYSTS

Therefore, the manufacturers have reduced the RCRA-regulated waste from their facilities, and have reduced the cost of disposal of the waste. The manufacturing processes generate some foam, and the foam is not seen as problem by the manufacturers as long as it can be controlled and rinsed away.

Unfortunately, collection of samples with zero headspace is nearly impossible when several inches of foam exist above the effluent. In addition, the required analytical techniques propagate additional foaming by sparging inert gas through the sample or by vigorous shaking.

As more manufacturers switch to alkaline detergents or polyglymes, analysts will more frequently face a severe foaming problem which may contaminate analytical instruments or increase the extraction time.

This paper will present a brief summary of methods to reduce foaming in the analytical laboratory, a recent literature review on antifoam agents/defoamers, and possible application of defoamers to analytical techniques.

Key words: defoamer, analytical, volatiles, detergents, polyglymes, effluents