Document wgdknrqKjO5vgMkZe886aGvQJ

Monsanto .... ....... ......... W- b. PAPAOEOROE - ST. LOUIS - November 10, 1970 ....... PCB ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM OCTOBER STATUS REPORT " J. MS.asBonergen J. E. Sprlnggate P.J.A. Marsh W. S. Clark J. R. Durland M. W. Farrar E. V. John R. E. Keller R. M. Kountz T. L. Oossage P. S. Park W. R. Richard J. R. Savage E. P. Wheeler - BRUSSELS - TOKYO - 2nd Street - 2nd Street OENERAL: The test to evaluate the disposal of solid waste con *' tamlnated with Aroclors In Envlro-Chem Systems' pilot unit In St. Charles, Missouri has been postponed to the middle of December. Negotiations are underway with a drum reconditioning firm to develop a procedure for recovering contaminated drums. MAR" KET- I-N-O-l - , Marketing has reached agreement with management to continue offering Aroclor 1248 and 1254 to the vacuum Industry. The product name will be, Santovao I and Santovac II. Vaouum pumps are small users - from one pint to five gallons initial fill. The typical pu<np will use the same charge for one to two years. The pumps are under a negative pressure so there is no leakage. Customers and equipment manufacturers will be advised that the material cannot be dumped. Westlnghouse has communicated some concern with MCS 1016 as a capacitor fluid. They have noticed a greater effect on polypropylene film. The higher percentage of monoohloro compounds may be the cause. , We visited a number of dielectric customers in October (both large and small). This will continue through the first two weeks of November. So far, we can report without exception, our customers are being very res ponsive to the "clean-up and close the system" pro gram. They express an earnest management commitment MONS 044665 -2- and a clear Interest In keeping communication open with St. Louis. ENGINEERING: Aroolor Liquid Incineration - CEA 2415 Process design is complete. John Zink's preliminary drawings for the incinerator package have been reviewed and they are in the latter stages of being approved. Zink has indicated shipment by February 15< which is a slight Improvement. Drafting and mechanical design are in progress on other elements of the project. MCS 1016 Distillation - CEA 2417 Process design is complete, the distillation column at the Bayou is being dismantled, and mechanloal design and drafting are proceeding. Preliminary information from our customers indicates that a project scope change may be in order to remove a percentage of the low boilers as well as the high boilers. The appar ent marketing problem will be reviewed with Research and Marketing. Tributyl Phosphate - CEA 2371 A pilot plant run revealed a muoh lower yield on phos phorous oxychloride and butanol. This is being studied. Additional laboratory runs are being made, and (mother pilot run will be made to establish and resolve the problem. Nonyl-Cumyl Phenyl Diphenyl Phosphate The tentative process report is currently being issued, and Engineering is initiating development of a scope report. JAPAN: No new developments. ' EUROPE: Board of Trade in U.K. is considering classifying polychlorinated biphenyls as hazardous materials. HONS 0 4 4 6 6 6 -3- MEPICAL: Toxicity studies underway at Industrial Bio-Test Laboratories on the PCB'e continue uneventfully. The beginning of the 90-day studies on rats on HB-40 and MIPB were delayed because of the receipt of a shipment of unacceptable rats. Currently these studies are scheduled to Btart November 2, 1970. We should have the final report In hand by Feb ruary 15, 1971. PUBLIC RELATIONS: Two press queries were handled during the month. Science News, following an Interview with Dr. Rlsebrough, called us to ask why we had not released production and sales figures. The reporter also asked about toxicity studies now under way. The Dayton Journal Herald wrote a lengthy article on the fate of local farmers' in the area. Milk had been removed from the market due to higher than acceptable levels of PCB, calves died and some members of one family became ill. The farmers have related their bad luck to the presence of PCB In the area and oharged "foot dragging" by Monsanto, the State of Ohio and the PDA in alerting them to the problem. Although the story prominently mentioned Monsanto, It did refer to PCB as a "new problem" and one In which Monsanto 1b playing a major role to Bolve. RESEARCH: PCB Analysis - U.S. Fish from Anniston streams and shrimp from Escambia Bay were collected for analysis. Results will be available December 1. Plant effluent streams from two hydraulic fluid customers had 0.01 - 0.09$ chlorinated biphenyl. Impurities In Aroclor Researchers at the University of Utrecht, The Netherlands, have reported finding low levels of polychlorinated dibenzofurans In competitive polychlorinated biphenyls. They also analyzed Aroclor 1260, Lot AK-3, and did not HONS 044667 -4- detect any oxygenated impurities. Because of the reported high toxicity of polychlorinated dibenzofurans, a study was undertaken to determine if these, or related compounds exist as Impurities in our products. Low levels (about 25 ppm) of polychlorinated dibenzofurans were confirmed in Phenoclor D.P. 6. a competitor to Aroolor 1260 from Prodelec (Prance). Aroolor 5442 appears to contain about 2 ppm polychlorinated dibenzo furans; none were detected in any other Aroolor studied. However, each of the Aroclor 1200 series contains poly chlorinated naphthalenes at varying levels. The Aroclor 5442 contains polychlorinated anthracene or phenanthrene. The Aroclor 1242, 1254, and 1260 samples are the same lots tested for toxicity by Industrial Bio-Test Laboratories. Adsorption of Aroclor from Plant Water Effluent A series of four 5-lnch diameter columns (each packed to a bed depth of 5.5 feet with Calgon's Filtrasorb 300 carbon) was placed on stream 10/2 at the Aroclor Sump. To-date the unit has been operating with minimum difficulties at an r-- average flow rate of 2 gpm/ft* (*sl000 oo/mln.). The avail able test results indicate an Aroclor reduction in the range (600-2,000 ppb) in the Influent to (ND/P 10 ppb) in the effluent of the first columns. Since there has been no indication of a breakthrough in the first column, plans are now to Increase the flow to 4 gpm/ft . In a 4 day pilot run, initial concentrations of 40-150 ppb in the effluent of the new limestone pit were reduced to an essentially NDA upon passing through a filter (4 inch diameter tube packed to 5.5 inch depth with carbon) at a flow of 100 cc/mln. Tests are now being run under the same conditions utilizing and as the filtering media. 1. NDA - no detectable amount Contact was made with a Monsanto Blodlze on 10/5. Blodlze has agreed to provide a 2300 gallon clarifier to be used both in a flocculation and a batch adsorption study. A sludge sample and a sample of the new limestone pit effluent have been sent to Denver Equipment Company for an evaluation of solids removal by froth floatation. Pit effluent samples have also been sent to Betz's Waste Water Lab for an eval uation of their different coagulants. . Photodegradation of Aroclor Preliminary experiments with Aroclor 1242 indicate that it is easily decomposed by ultraviolet light. A 0.1# solution of Aroclor 1242 in iso-octane shows no significant EC active material after exposure to a 450 watt Hanovla Xenon arc at a distance 4" for 50 minutes. Upon completion of the MOMS 044660 -5- analysls of all samples taken during the study, a report will be Issued. The exposure of the Aroclor to ultraviolet !'lg.it was carried cut by Dr. Bloomfield In Monsanto Central Research. Biodegradation Testing - St. LouIb A three-day sampling of the HB-40 and mono-isopropyl biphenyl (MIPB) semi-continuous activated sludge units nine weeks after the previous sampling period has shown significant changes In the biodegradation rates. For MIPB, disappear ance rates for the three days by UV analyses were 75, 70 and 77 percent compared with the mean of 67 percent In the previous sampling period. OC analyses indicate that the predominant monoisopropyl biphenyl components are almost completely degraded during the cyole, leaving as the un degraded portion the dlalkylated components. For HB-40, the previous sampling period had Bhown essentially a zero disappearance rate with a high degree of scatter. During the three-day period, disappearance rates of 54, 52 and 58 percent were found. From OC analyses, it appears that the one-ring hydrogenated components are more readily degradable than the two-ring hydrogenated components. Feeding of the MIPB and HB-40 Is continuing. An additional sampling period Is planned to determine If any further signi ficant changes will occur. Five additional units are now being added to our setup to per mit simultaneous testing of a greater number of products. Testing of Aroclor 1221 will be started In one of the new units. Biodegradation rate studies on chlorinated biphenyl have not been reproducible. Seml-contlnuous activated sludge units for Aroclor 1242, Aroclor 1254, MCS 1016 and MCS 1043 were modified to permit use of magnetic stirring. The addition of stirring to the units appears to reduce the degree of scatter to some extent. The method of sampling Is now being Investigated to determine Its contribution to the scatter. No conclusions can be drawn at this time concerning differ ences In biodegradation rates. Some changes In component ratios will be noted for MCS 1016 and MCS 1043. Testing of triehlorobenzene, Arobromchlor 1232, Gulf 200 Bright Stock, Aroclor 5432 and Aroclor 5442 are now started in magneticallystirred units, Aroclor 5460 Eleven lots of current Anniston Plant production were anal yzed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) by carbon skeleton OC. The results ranged from 0.32 to 1.29# PCB. The latter Is probably too high to satisfy the FDA for use as a hot melt adhesive in food packaging. 699* * SNOH -6- PCB - Environmental Studies - Europe Environmental Studies - At an Informal meeting on 24th Sept, vjith high level representatives of the British Nature Con servancy and British Ornithological societies, we gave a presentation of the PCB problem and Monsanto's efforts to deal with it. this was well received and comments approving of Monsanto's cooperative approach were made. Dr. Martin Holdgate, of the British Cabinet Offloe, who has wide res ponsibility for environmental problems In the U.K., thought that the Monsanto response to the problem was very generous. Among other things he has responsibility for the Issue of the NERC report on the deaths of sea-birds In the Irish Sea. He undertook to ensure that Monsanto would see this report In draft before publication and that relevant comment from us would be Included. We are still awaiting this draft, but understand that it is being revised at present and we will reoelve a copy on completion of this revision. We have been told, however, that the report accepts that high levels of PCB's were found In the dead sea-birds and thus although the deaths could not be attributed direotly to the presence of PCB'a this oould have been a contributory factor. The meeting at Stockholm, organized by the Swedish National Environmental Protection Board, was attended. Not very much new Information was provided and, generally the meeting discussion was limited and rather an anticlimax. Reference to the Monsanto contribution at CIORE was made In compli mentary terms. A modified print of this paper was available to the delegates of the Stockholm meeting, but was not read. We presented a summary of the 9 month chronic toxicity trials on rats and dogs (Bio-Test) to counter some alarmist speculation on toxicity to humans. A meeting on analytical problems of PCB's organized by the British Ministry of Agriculture was attended. A preliminary report from the Fisheries Laboratory of the Ministry suggested that no significant levels of PCB's were found In fish from the Severn Estuary. This Is perhaps, surprising In view of the location of the Newport Plant. Biodegradation - The Monsanto sponsored project at University College, Bangor has now started. A meeting with Professor Evans and his student was held to discuss the Initial program and it was agreed that the elective technique would be us.ed In an attempt to prepare soil cultures capable of degrading Aroclors 1242 and 1254 and specific Isomers. Evans claims to have Isolated a biphenyl degrading organism which operates through a different ring-splitting mechanism from the pre vious culture (C2). This Is being made available to Ruabon for study and is of Interest since It opens up the possibility MOWS 044670 -7- of degrading structures which are stable towards Cg. Analytical results arc awaited on the degradation tests on jm-'lO, MCS 717 (repeat), MCS 7^2, MCS 1016 (repeat), and on tin.- :.':3 - 2':3': 1:5' hexachlorlnatcrt biphenyl lrepeat), MANUFACTUHUfa: Anniston Plant ' POP hovel In Sewer : Aroclor lossos during October averaged 3#/day (#05 ppb). Pour high dally values (1000-4000 ppb) account- for 1.8 lb/ctay - negleotlng thoao, Ootober average Is l.J l"b/day. Actions now being taken to reduce upsets. . Alabama V.'ater Improvement Commission Contacts ; A mooting was held with the AWIC technical staff. They were satisfied with the px-ogress made at Anniston on the PCM problem. Plant effluent levels will bo reported monthly. Spills ' ' Cloaning out a plugged Montar drumout lino caused some to spill on the floor which was absorbed In sand and cleaned up. A leak In a chloi'lnator pump caused Borne Aroclor to enter the sump whore It was oontalned without leaving the department Into the plant waste sewer. Projects t> Evalirtlons ' 1. Input data to define magnitude of solid waste disposal problem was published In October. " later work has Indicated that l-iontar 5 (Aroclor 5460 bottoms) oontalns very little PC}'. If confirmed, this reduces PCS containing bulk solids by 10 H pounds per yeur/ 2. Premise approved for spent CRrbon- (containing PCD) collection and burial. Ultimate disposal by incineration Is present plan. HONS 044671 -8- Pro.locts fc Evaluations . 3. Uemovul of PClV-ladcn sludge from limestone pit by . ' pumping vino aucccsHfolly demonstrated. This opens ths way to longer pit life by removal of solids during operation of the pit. *1. Premise for rehabilitation of No. 1 limestone pit by 1/1/70 was approved In plant. Project preliminary . estimate .Is $12M Capital, $2M Dismantling, and $26M . Mechanical Expense. This estimate will be reviewed and an APE prepared in November. Cleanout work io presently underway by pumping (eeo 3 abovo) so that the usual ' PCS discharge to Snow's Creek from pit cleanout will be minimised.. Precautions arc being taken to minimize PCB escape during limestone removal. 5. Flow sheet developed for pilot clarifier intended to demonstrate removal of aollds (with adsorb Aroelor) from limestone pit effluent. Premise and estimate will be developed by mid-November. . 6. Approximately JOO gallons of liquid PCB was removed from department sump after 2$ months of operation. "Skimmer" was successfully demonstrated with collected soum being very high in PCB content (200M ppb). Approval was received to purchusc. W. 0. KTummrlch Plant PCB Bevels In Sewer A. For the period 9/22 - 10/15 losses to the river from the treatment plant ranged from 457 to 2416 ppb with an average loss of 597 ppb for 8 samples. This is ' equivalent to 85 lbs/day. . B. WOK laboratory1s chromatograph for measuring PCB's has been repaired end current schedule of 6 samplou/ wook will be maintained. Projects To Reduce Sewered PCB's From Aroelor Department A. Blow tank demister (Bat. 2021) project completed and started up on 10/22. No mist dovfnstream from the . demister was detected using a Brink mist sampler. Scrubber Jet samples have been sent to the laboratory for analysis to verify loss reduction. B. Design package for the project to provide paving, ' curbs, trenches end catch basin in the tank car and truck loading areas will be completed in November. HONS 04*1672 Program To Eliminate Sewered PCB's Prom Using Departingnts A. Summary roport covering losses from using departments In October will be issued by November 9- Only reported loss for September was 1 quart from Dept. J*>1. Facts eonccrr>isi5 major loss on IO/23 at the Rip Trade will be published separately by the investigation . committee. '. D. Project (Est. 2497 for $2490 Expense) to provide 150,000 gallons of interim storage for scrap Ax'oclor was completed in Octobor. VOb lrc^_In_MuioegJi*re ' A. Vapor campleo taken to dute are inconclusive. Some sampling problems are indicated. Sampling program to identify air loscos will be completed in November. ' . PCB Rework Project- (Est. 2095) Design package completed and safety review held . for Phae 111 (installation of storage facilities for rework material). Newport Plant (September) PCD bevels In Sewer . TCP's in the Newport Plant effluent between 1st September and 5th October ranged from 20 to 9>2 ppb. There wore 3 high results of 2,990 PPb, 81,039 and 3,095 ppb. The highest of these coincides with leaks from the Santothena pumps on 4-NDPA Plant. Excluding the 3 high results, the everage figure is 246 ppb. 246 ppb of PCB is equivalent to approximately 2. 46 lbs/day. Information has been requested from Anniston on trials using carbon treatment for removal of Aroolors from waste effluent. . Installation of sump level alarms now complete. Spills, ' A bunded area draining into a closed drum has been Installed around the santothorm pumps on the 4-NDPA plant. Modifications are in hand to improve the drainage from this area. . MONS 044673 -J.U- PC13 Levels In Atmosphere TSI) Progress Report Wo. 2 on Job Wo. 27/7139/2392 was Issued on 15'-h October giving results obtained to date on sampling of plant atmosphere for PCB contamination. Results arc: Area PCB mg/m air Comments - Drumming O.JB Indoors. 2 roller doors ope Chlorination (ground floor) 0.59 0.13 Enclosed area, large roller door open . Santolube 900 0.23 . Indoors, Normal process con Jl-NDPA O.94 (Expansion tank) Praot. Nil Outdoors Outdoors . Aroclor control room 0.28 Indoora Chlorination (1st floor) 0.12 ChlorlnatorB shutdown 0.19 0.12 Chlorlnators operating II II Alrblowlng room 0.39 Indoors. Normall process conditions Used Drum Disposal Blagdens drum reconditioning plant at Barking In Essex visited to see a trial to recondition used Aroclor drums. . . ms I W. B. PAPAOBOROK MOMS 044674