Study on the Proper Evaluation Methods for Flammable Waste Organic Solvents

To develop an effective management plan for flammable waste organic solvents generated in Korea, 16 industrial samples of such waste were collected and analyzed.The Pensky-Martens flash point measurement method was applied, and 11 of the 16 samples were found to have flash points within the method's applicable range of 40 C to 370 C.However, five samples exhibited flash points below 40 C.Additionally, eight samples were identified with flash points exceeding 100 C.Since the Pensky-Martens method cannot be used for measuring flash points below 40 C, the Tag test method was employed for those samples, producing lower values than the Pensky-Martens method.For samples with flash points above 40 C, the Cleveland test method yielded results consistent with those of the Pensky-Martens method.In conclusion, the Pensky-Martens test method is recommended as the primary approach for measuring the flash points of waste organic solvents within its range of 40 C to 370 C.This method satisfies the criteria for determining flammability and hazardous properties, particularly within 60.5 C to 65.5 C, making it the preferred choice for such evaluations.Therefore, it is considered a more effective testing method for determining whether waste organic solvents can be recycled.