DETERMINATION OF TOTAL ORGANIC EMISSIONS FROM HAZARDOUS-WASTE COMBUSTORS

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency risk assessment guidance currentl y under development for evaluation of permitting information from haza rdous waste combustors requires a quantity referred to as ''total orga nic carbon'', The risk guidance does not define this term precisely, n or does it explain how it should be determined, This paper discusses b asic principles of sampling and analysis of stack emissions for ''tota l organics'', best currently available technology, and the status of t wo ongoing projects designed to provide guidance and to improve analys is procedures, Determination of total organics from stack emissions is much more complicated than might be expected, and more published guid ance is badly needed, The best scheme available for analysis of stack emissions for total organics to be used in material balance style ''bo okkeeping'' includes determination of organics content in three boilin g point ranges: <100 degrees C, 100 degrees C-300 degrees C, and >300 degrees C, Total organic carbon is not a useful quantity, since it inc ludes soot, polymeric material, and other nonextractable organic mater ials, Total organics has been found to be an imperfect but less mislea ding term, Various calculations can be made and conclusions can be dra wn on the basis of the contents of the individual boiling point ranges , as determined by the recommended methodology, The analysis strategy is complicated and difficult, and it contains limitations and compromi ses, It does not, however, require exotic analysis instrumentation,, n or is it very expensive, Each of these facets of the methodology is di scussed in this paper, and a status report is provided on development of a guidance document and a research project intended to produce impr oved methods.