Chemistry of Hazardous Materials - Disposing of Chemicals

Chemistry of Hazardous Materials - Disposing of ChemicalsChemistry of hazardous materials is a branch of engineering that deals with the handling and storage of chemical or biological substances, as well as their release from the hazardous waste environment. Chemical hazards include volatile organic compounds (VOCs), inorganic chemicals, perchlorates, and carcinogens. These chemicals are present at levels that can be toxic for humans. To get rid of the toxicity of these chemicals, it is required to be handled carefully and kept under strict guidelines.Organic chemicals are generally utilized for industrial purposes, and are also used in the production of pharmaceuticals. Though they are derived from natural resources, they are often rendered unsafe due to the breakdown in chemical processes. Organic solvents are used in the manufacturing of plastic products such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Though this can be disposed of easily, it may contain VOCs that may be carcinogenic or are tox ic to the human body.Hazardous waste includes: nuclear and radiological materials; hydrocarbons, and other organic contaminants; environmental pollutants, including chemical wastes; petroleum by-products; contaminated fuel and lubricants; irradiated materials; and biological contaminants. These contaminants are classified based on their size, their toxic nature, and whether they can be contained in a viable form for reuse. There are many government agencies in charge of handling hazardous waste.In addition to these, different institutions, both governmental and non-governmental, are also tasked with the responsibility of disposing of hazardous waste. As such, it is necessary to have a good understanding of the techniques to deal with hazardous materials. Some important steps to handle hazardous materials include:- Chemical analysis of the chemical wastes. This is done by testing the compounds and determining whether they are generally present at a dangerous level. This ensures that there is no danger to the public. - Initial research regarding the chemical waste needs to be carried out. This helps in properly processing the chemical waste.- The next step after analyzing the chemical waste is disposal of the biological waste. This process is often called 'hazardous waste disposal'. As a rule, the use of chemicals and other hazardous wastes should be limited while going through this procedure.- The final step in the process of handling hazardous waste is post-disposal care. This involves controlling the amount of exposure to the waste and proper disposal of the hazardous waste. After proper disposal, the waste can then be reused as fertilizer, or it can be decontaminated and reused in various areas.