Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy applied to hazardous waste: I--Preliminary test of material analysis for improvement of personal protection strategies.
Many chemicals, when mixed, can produce potentially hazardous effects which are harmful to human health and to the environment such as heat, pressure, fire, explosion, violent reaction, and toxic dusts, mists, fumes, and/or gases. Waste chemicals handled on a remedial action site are analyzed by simple chemical methods for compatibility. Because it is difficult to base worker and community protection programs on this limited knowledge of material content, extreme precautions must be taken to ensure safety to all working on or living near hazardous waste remedial action sites. The approach used in this study involved the application of Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) to the analysis of samples taken from the Chem-Dyne remedial action hazardous waste site. The data generated are compared to the results obtained using compatibility and GC-MS analysis procedures. Illustrations are given of improved personal protection strategies, based on drum material composition obtainable by FTIR. The requirements for further testing are defined.