Chem321:Acme waste streams

Acme Chemical Corporation is committed to pollution prevention through waste minimization. Nevertheless, our processes naturally produce some waste. Because of the custom nature of our business, our waste can vary considerably, but this document shows the main waste streams produced in a typical month. Profits are estimated from sales, by subtracting for plant depreciation/running costs, labor, raw materials and waste disposal/treatment. Organic wastes are sent out "as is" for incineration; aqueous (water-based) wastes are pre-treated on-site to reduce disposal costs, then sent out for final treatment and disposal at sea. Waste disposal costs average $137,000 per month.

2-Thiopheneacetyl chloride (TAC) process

In a typical month, we produce around 60 batches of TAC, or 12 tonnes, worth $300,000. Our profit on this is around $70,000/month. The following waste is then produced:

• 50 tonnes (12000 gallons) 10% aqueous sodium chloride and sodium sulfite, containing traces of organic compounds. This is formed by neutralization of sulfur dioxide and hydrogen chloride by-products with sodium hydroxide. This is currently treated off site then discharged into the ocean, costing us $20,000 per month
• 25 tonnes (6000 gallons) 15% aqueous sodium chloride containing low levels of organic compounds, mostly derivatives of thiophene. This is currently treated off site then discharged into the ocean, costing us $12,000 per month.
• 5 tonnes (1500 gallons) of a toluene solution containing dark polymeric by products which are mostly derivatives of thiophene (and rather smelly!). This is incinerated for a cost of $10,000, so none of the waste remains active.

5-Methoxybenzothiophene (5-MBT) process

In a typical month we produce around 30 batches of 5-MBT, or 20 tonnes, worth $400,000. Our profit on this is around $50,000/month. The following waste is then produced:

• 80 tonnes (20000 gallons) 10% aqueous sodium chloride containing traces of organic compounds. This is currently treated off site then discharged into the ocean, costing us $30,000 per month.
• 5 tonnes (1500 gallons) of a toluene solution containing organic by products which are mostly derivatives of benzothiophene (and rather smelly!). This is incinerated for a cost of $10,000, so none of the waste remains active.

2-Methylthiazoline (2-MTZ) process

In a typical month, we produce around 100 batches of 2-MTZ, or 50 tonnes, worth $400,000. Our profit on this is around $50,000/month. The following waste is then produced:

• 5 tonnes (1200 gallons) of organic residues, consisting mainly of a mixture of acetonitrile with minor amounts of 2-MTZ, acetonitrile polymers & byproducts. This is incinerated for a cost of $10,000, so none of the waste remains active.
• 5 tonnes (1500 gallons) of heptane residues, consisting mainly of heptane with traces of acetonitrile, 2-MTZ sulfate and tarry by-products. This is incinerated for a cost of $5,000, so none of the waste remains active.
• 5 tonnes (1200 gallons) of 10% aqueous potassium sulfate containing trace organics. This is currently treated off site then discharged into the ocean, costing us $2,000 per month.

2-Chloro-4-aminothiazole (CAT) process

In a typical month, we produce around 20 batches of CAT, or 8 tonnes, worth $300,000. Our profit on this is around $40,000/month. The following waste is then produced:

• 20 tonnes (1000 gallons) of 20% aqueous ammonium orthophosphate. This is currently sent to another company where the phosphate is recovered for fertilizer; this costs us $1,000 per month, as we pay for the shipping and their waste disposal.
• 1 tonne (200 gallons) of dichloromethane residues, consisting mainly of dichloromethane and small amounts of CAT, 2-hydroxy-4-aminothiazole, and organic by-products. This is incinerated for a cost of $5,000, so none of the waste remains active.

Other custom processes

These vary considerably, but our 2014 custom production averaged out with the following figures:

• Sales were worth around $300,000 per month, with a profit around $30,000 per month, though this work can lead to larger orders (as happened with TAC, etc.)
• 30 tonnes (1000 gallons) of neutralized aqueous waste, most often sodium chloride solution. This is usually treated off site then discharged into the ocean, costing us $12,000 per month
• 10 tonnes (1500 gallons) of non-halogenated solvents (most often acetone, heptane or toluene) containing by-products. This is incinerated for a cost of $20,000, so none of the waste remains active.