TB 43-0134
Appendix H
Battery Toxicity Data for Selected Military Batteries,
c.
Batteries Sampled: A representative sample of
H-1.
Purpose
six
bat-tery
classes
procured
under
US
Army
To provide toxicity data for identification of hazardous waste
Communications-Elec-tronics Command (USA CECOM)
characteristics associated with selected military batteries.
battery contracts were selected. Each sample consisted of
H-2.
Method
seven subsamples (n=7) for each battery type. They are:
The data from the source study represents findings from two
(1) Alkaline (ALK, BA-3517/U).
basic analytical approaches.
(2) Carbon-Zinc (LeClanche (LCE), BA-2/U).
a.
Federal Regulations: Under federal regulations,
(3) Magnesium (MG, BA-4386/U).
40 CFR Part 261, Appendix II-Method 1311 Toxic
(4) Lithium-Manganese Dioxide (Li-MnO2, BA-
Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) was employed to
5372/U).
determine toxicity in accordance with this federal regulation.
(5) Lithium-Sulfur Dioxide (Li-S02, BA-
This is a chemical dependant test. The specific chemical at or
5598/U).
above its specified regulatory level must be present for the
(6) Lithium-Thionyl Chloride (Li-SOCI2, BA-
sample to be considered toxic under this criteria. Regulatory
6598/U).
levels of target chemicals are reported in milligrams/liter
d.
Sample Conditioning:
(mg/L).
(1) ALK, LCE, MG and Li-MnO2 batteries 50%
b.
State Bioassay Regulations: Some states utilize
discharged prior to testing to simulate field disposal field
a bioassay in addition to TCLP to identify hazardous wastes.
conditions.
Live organisms are exposed to concentrations of test materials
(2) Li-SO2 and Li-SOC12 batteries are
in order to determine toxicity. Typically the method requires a
designed with a built-in complete discharge device (CDD).
ninety-six hour (96-h) LC50 acute toxicity test be preformed on
User's instruc-tions require complete discharge prior to
organisms at various concentrations of sample materials. The
disposal. Samples of these batteries were totally discharged
96-h LC50 is that concentration of sample material, re-ported in
prior to testing.
mg/L, which kills fifty (50) percent of the test organisms after
H-3.
96-hours of exposure. The standard used to gauge toxicity is
a.
TCLP data.
a value of less than 500 mg/L. Material exhibiting a value of
less than 500 mg/L is considered toxic under this method.
Table H-I. Summary of TCLP Results by Battery Chemical Type
Mean (mg/L)
TCLP
Regulatory
Battery Chemistry Type:
ALK
LCE
MG
Li-MnO2
Li-S02
Li-SOC12
Limit (mg/L)
Constituent
0.053
0.190
0.15
0.062
<0.050
0.10
5.0
Barium
<0.10
0.18
0.88
<0.10
<0.10
0.15
100.0
Cadmium
<0.0030
0.052
0.0033
<0.0030
0.017
<0.0030
1.0
<0.010
0.010
9.12
0.012
<0.010
4.23
5.0
Lead
<0.050
0.186
<0.050
<0.050
<0.050
<0.050
5.0
Mercury
0.033
0.040
N/A4
N/A4
NIA4
N/A4
0.20
Selenium
<0.050
0.058
0.088
<0.050
<0.050
0.082
1.0
Silver
<0.010
0.036
<0.010
<0.010
<0.010
<0.010
5.0
Notes:
1.
n=7 for each Battery Chemistry Type.
2.
Mean value exceeds regulatory limit.
3.
95% confidence limit exceeds regulatory limit.
4.
Lithium and Magnesium batteries do not contain mercury.
1.
Report, Martin Marietta Energy Systems Inc., Contract DE-AC05-840R21400, January, 1992, Subject: Toxicity Study of Selected
Military Batteries.
H-1
