Document QwY416EK8qm4n1mnBJga4azo

June 29, 1981 to DOW CHEMICAL U.S.A. LOUISIANA DIVISION P. O. BOX ISO PLAQUEMINE, LOUISIANA 707B4 604 3B8-BOOO A. J. Seidule, Manager Plastics Administration Building 2306 J. G. Barksdale C. W. Brannan J. E. Campbell A- W. Daigre j. P. Heaslip DUST SAMPLING PROJECT FOR THE PLASTICS DEPARTMENT JUNE 16, 1981 THROUGH JUNE 23, 1981 The odd numbered quadrants were sampled during this period of time. Two samplers exceeded the recommended limit on dust emissions- - Collector Number 3 located along the Poly B fenceline near its flare and Collector Number 7 located north of CPE at the intersection of Caustic and Mayflower Roads. Quadrant 3 showed a slightly excessive amount of dustfall. There was not enough sample however to run a DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimeter) analysis. Microscopic investigation showed the sample to be mostly Polyethylene with some rust-like particles, the source of which has not been identified at this time. The amount of dust collected in Quadrant 7 was the most collected so far, almost 63 Tons/mo/mi . Figure 1 is a copy of the DSC analysis run on the dust collected in Quadrant 7. Figure 2 is a copy of a DSC analysis of some standard CPE resin with no additives. These two figures show marked similarities which lead one to conclude that Sample 7 was mostly CPE. The flattening of the sample peak was probably due to the impurity of the sample. A microscopic analysis of the same sample confirmed its being CPE intermixed with some rust-like particles. The Spill.Log for this same sampling period shows that CPE reported two spills leaving the Block on June 20, one at 8:15 AM and the second at 2:41 PM. The wind direction at the time of each of the spills was in the north to northeasterly direction. These spills explain the excessive amount of dustfall collected in Quadrant 7. AN OPERATING UNIT OF THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY D 084974 0NFrD8NTrA( s'- oU DUST DAMPLING PROJECT JUNE 29, 1981 PAGE 2 The Spill Log shows a citizen's complaint logged in on June 20 also. A sample of dust collected from a car was brought into Gate 1 along with the complaint. In order to determine if any PVC were present, the sample was allowed to sit in water for several minutes. .The density of PVC causes it to sink in water while Polyethylene will float. The entire sample floated. Figure 3 is a copy of the DSC analysis run on this sample. Figure 4 is an analysis of a standard HDPE resin. The peak on the sample analysis is at a higher temperature than that of the standard HDPE resin. This sometimes indicates the presence of CPE in Polyethylene. The delay of the peak can also be caused by other impurities in the sample. A microscopic inspection of the sample showed no CPE present but there was much dirt present. The preceding data leads one to conclude that the sample brought in was Polyethylene dust. There were no Polyethylene spills during this same period of time that would explain any excessive amounts of Poly ethylene being found outside the Division. Attached is the data for the week June 16 through June 23. Pam L. Usie Linear Polyethylene and Derivatives Technology Center Laboratory Building 807 Plaquemine, LA Attachments ifp fh * DO 0 8 4 9 2 6 C O N F ID E N T IA L DO 0 8 4 9 7 7 C O N F ID E N T IA L Figure 3 CO NFIDFNTIAL I t I a o o co is. >0 w CD I -- 1 7 06 0-- - 70 3o )3 i . .j . / J; : ^: >'s9r7 /$ f- 14 n, 100 k 0---- F </ f /^ fi Sf T n i i 3 V'f V* zz. 5 I I l 1 t i n M* Vc3 I ! CO NFIDENTIAL ` 1/JSTrAlL COLLECTION Circle^ 'umbers Indicate Collector boc^_Jcr>E X'e Indicate Amount Collected In That Quadrant EPA limit: 20 tons/mi2/mo Quadrants Sampled: ppp DATE OUT: * WIND DIRECTION (\ (Averag Irt Given Direction Over The Y/fe*x) June 16. 1981 DATE IN: June 23, 1981 QUADRANTS SAMPLED: ODD DO 084931 CONFTDFNTTAL c DUSTFALL ANALYSIS o DATE OUT: 6-16-81 QUADRANT NUMBER 1 3 5 7 9 1-1 13 15 DUSTFALL (g) .0191 .0306 .0232 .0938 .0273 .0162 .0079 .0112 DATE IN: 6-23-81 Dr (TONS > (MoMi2) 12.79 20.49 15.54 62.82 18.28 10.87 5.30 7.51 COMMENTS CPE, PVC, PE mix Mostly PE, rusty could be oxidized(7) Rusty PE, much Insect remains 902 CPE, some rusty PE PE & CPE Mix brown, dirty CPE & PE PE Some Smooth Round Particles PLU/csz 29 JUNE 81 DO 084932 CONFIDENTIAL SPILL LOG DATE June 20 June 20 June 20 PLANT INVOLVED CPE Unknown (citizen's complaint) CPE TIME OF REPORT WIND DIRECTION AT TIME OF REPORT 8:15 Q till 10:29 8*n* 16.74% in N 74.48% in NE 8.78% in E 2:41 p .m. 12.97% in N 69.04% in NE 16.74% in E 1.25% in NW PLU/csz 29 JUNE 81 DO 084933 CONFIDENTIAL