Introduction Techniques

Techniques for pollution control Emissions Impact

In-process
In-process Emissions Management Raw Waste Waste Energy Accidents Noise Monitoring Closure Installation
controls
controls controls materials handling recovery or issues
disposal

conditioning. Settlement is carried out in clarifiers that should be specifically designed with an inlet,
outlet, settling zone and sludge blanket (or sludge zone). Sludges liberated from a settlement stage are
typically around 1% dry solids content.

Air flotation is a physical solids separation process relying upon the chemical conditioning of the
suspended solids to form a flocculated structure that can be floated to the surface of a reactor by
introducing fine bubbles of air. The basic mechanism of air flotation is to introduce small air bubbles into
the wastewater containing the suspended solids to be floated. The fine air bubbles attach themselves to
the chemically conditioned particles and hence the solids float to the surface, where they are
accumulated, thickened and removed by mechanical skimming or suction withdrawal. Usually
chemicals such as polymers, aluminium sulphate or ferric chloride are used to enhance the adhesion of
bubbles. The method of air supply is used to define the process.

Flotation is used when gravity settlement is not appropriate, for example, when:
• the particulates have poor gravity settling characteristics
• the density difference between the suspended particles and water is too low
• there is a space constraint at the site
• oil and grease are to be removed
• recovery of material is required

Dissolved air flotation (DAF) is most widely used because of its effectiveness in removing a range of
solids. The DAF system generates a supersaturated solution of wastewater and compressed air by
raising the pressure of the wastewater stream to that of the compressed air, then mixing the two in a
retention tank. This supersaturated mixture of air and wastewater flows to a large flotation tank where
the pressure is released, thereby generating numerous small air bubbles. Through a combination of
adsorption and entrapment, the flocculated particles rise to the surface of the reactor. The suspended
solids float to the top of the liquid and form a foam that is then skimmed off. Some soluble colloidal
substances are removed from the wastewater by adding coagulation and flocculation chemicals (e.g.
iron salts, aluminium salts and polyelectrolytes) to form precipitates with the solutes.

Indicative BAT requirements for settlement

1 Refer to Section 2.10 on page 95 and Table 2.16.

2.1.13 Drum washing, crushing, shredding and

cutting

This section is without prejudice to Section 2.6 on Waste recovery or disposal. It should be noted that
most drums and IBC's are designed, manufactured and marked to enable reconditioning and
refurbishment, and as such, used 205 litre drums and 800 and 1000 litre IBCs should be cleaned and
reconditioned to enable re-use where technically and economically possible.
1
Container washing and cutting operations must take account of the former contents and any residues
that may be present. Containers used to store cut drums/IBCs should be covered.

1
In the context of this document a ‘drum’ (sometimes referred to as a barrel) is a
cylindrical container (usually metal or plastic) generally used for transport or storage
of liquids or powder.

Sector Guidance Note IPPC S5.06 | Issue 4 55

Introduction Techniques
Techniques for pollution control Emissions Impact
In-process
In-process Emissions Management Raw Waste Waste Energy Accidents Noise Monitoring Closure Installation
controls
controls controls materials handling recovery or issues
disposal

Drum crushers/shredders are typically used for two purposes:

• extracting wastes that cannot be removed from used containers using those practices commonly
employed to remove material from the type of packaging involved, including pouring, pumping, aspi-
rating, shaking, scraping, chipping etc, or if necessary a combination of these
• as a means of reducing the volume of a drum containing a residue that cannot be removed using
the above practices

Most plant comprises a proprietary compaction unit. There are examples of modified processes, which
may be as simple as a metal spike onto which drums are dropped. Regardless of the technique
employed, there is usually no provision for environmental control and the emissions are dependent on
the composition of the waste held within the drum.

An example of suitable plant consists of a fume-extracted enclosure mounted on a raised platform and
containing a hydraulically operated remotely controlled crushing head. Waste residues expelled from
the drums during crushing are passed via an enclosed chute into a drum placed underneath the
elevated platform. Vapours are extracted through an oil scrubber and two activated carbon filters in
series, before discharge to atmosphere. Interlocks prevent operation of the crusher when either the
crusher door is open or the abatement system is not operating.

Drum crushing/shredding units should only vent direct to atmosphere if they are used to crush drums
that have been washed and fully purged of their former contents. Where nominally empty drums2 or
drums containing wastes are crushed or shredded, units should not vent direct to atmosphere. The
mixing of some wastes may generate toxic or flammable atmospheres and there is also the possibility
of static discharges, exothermic reactions and spontaneous combustion with some types and mixes of
wastes and reagents. For this reason, procedures must be in place that firstly identify the residual
contents of drums to be crushed, and secondly ensure that drums containing residual contents that
could cause any of the above occurring are crushed in such a way that the mixture and possible
reaction of residual contents expressed from crushed drums is prevented.

2
In the context of this document ‘nominally empty’ means as empty as practically
possible, using practices commonly employed to remove material from the type of
packaging involved - including pouring, pumping, aspirating, shaking, scraping,
chipping etc., or if necessary a combination of these"

Sector Guidance Note IPPC S5.06 | Issue 4 56

Introduction Techniques
Techniques for pollution control Emissions Impact
In-process
In-process Emissions Management Raw Waste Waste Energy Accidents Noise Monitoring Closure Installation
controls
controls controls materials handling recovery or issues
disposal

Indicative requirements for drum washing, crushing, shredding and cutting

1 Empty containers that are in sound condition and are free from residual waste should be sent
for reconditioning and re-use. Those drums that are not able to be re-used should be cleaned
to facilitate recycling or recovery by other means (see Section 2.6 on page 84 on waste
recovery or disposal).

2 BAT for pre-acceptance criteria (see Section 2.1.1 on page 20), waste characterisation (see
Section 2.1.2 on page 25) and process control (see Section 2.1.4 on page 40) as outlined in
earlier sections should be followed to prevent incompatible reactions from washwaters or
residues.

3 Drums containing (or which have contained):

• flammable and highly flammable wastes1
• volatile substances2

that cannot be recovered, should not be subject to crushing, unless the residues have been
removed and the drum cleaned.

4 Processing of containers should only be undertaken following written instruction. These

instructions should include which containers is to be processed and the type of container to
hold residues.

5 Emissions to air (see Section 2.2.1 on page 59) should be controlled by ensuring:
• drum crushing and shredding plant is fitted with an extractive vent system linked to abate-
ment, for example, an oil scrubber and activated carbon filter
• the abatement system should be interlocked such that the plant cannot operate unless the
abatement system is working
• all cutting operations should be subject to LEV

6 BAT techniques for emissions to water are outlined in Section 2.2.2 on page 62, and include
the need to:
• keep skips for the storage of crushed/cut drums covered
• sealed system, e.g. chute, for containment of residues
• sealed drainage (see Section 2.8 on page 89)

7 BAT for fugitive emissions to air are outlined in Section 2.2.4 on page 69.

8 Necessary measures for accident prevention is outlined in Section 2.8 on page 89.
1
As defined by the Special Waste Regulations 1996.
2
A volatile substance can be defined as that with a vapour pressure > 1.5 mm Hg at 25 oC.

2.1.14 Road tanker washing

Most treatment plants incorporate a washing-out facility to enable the removal of residues from vehicle
tanker barrels. In some cases, vapours may become trapped within the sludges. BAT for road vehicle
washing includes appropriate actions to avoid any uncontrolled releases, and the identification of
intrinsic hazards or potential pollution problems at the waste characterisation stages for residues of
wastes that have been delivered to the installation. In this case the washings can be transferred to
appropriate storage and treated in the same way as the waste from which it was derived.

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