Abstract
The collection and proper treatment of the liquid- and solid-waste with unclear composition (Unclear Composition Laboratory Waste: UCLW) was studied. It was premised to carry out the thermal disposal using the waste treatment system in Environmental Science Center at The University of Tokyo. We considered the information of UCLWs about composition required in order to supply to the organic treatment equipment. The analytical method for UCLWs and the pretreatment method for supplying to equipment were also considered. Based on these results, 21,695 UCLWs (about 19,940 kg) were collected. Each analysis sample was prepared by mixing several UCLWs safely. Electropositive elements (such as Hg, As, Se, Cd, Pb, Cr, B, V, Zn, Cu, Ni, Ba, Mn and Mo) were measured by the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). We also measured the electronegative elements (such as F, Cl, Br, I, P, S and N) with the combustion-ion chromatography and/or ion selective electrodes. The pretreatments of UCLWs for supplying to equipment were carried out based on these measurement results. The proper treatment of 11,957 UCLWs (about 14,315 kg) was completed. We proposed that our novel techniques about proper treatment of UCLWs could be more generally applied. It was concluded that the developed methods in this study are applicable for the collection and proper treatment of UCLWs in other universities and research institutes without thermal disposal equipment.
