How do you dispose of a spent solution?
Powder Strip is a highly biodegradable product which has a low environmental effect. It is easy to dispose of. However new regulations in some states and regulations in California on one ingredient, Normal Methyl Pyrrolidone may require it to be hauled away as an industrial waste. Further regulations may be upcoming in 2019.
This product is not toxic to aquatic bacteria. In fact it readily feeds waste treatment facilities. The amount of organic material after a five day test is less than sixty percent the amount which can be found by chemical means. (BOD > 60% COD) Most municipal waste treatment facilities can handle day to day emissions associated with these products, larger discharges may contribute too much organic material to a waste stream so larger emissions should be discharged a little at a time or the waste facility should be informed of a large emission.
There is a slight amount of alkalinity in this product and it may need to be neutralized. The bath should be diluted with an equivalent amount of water and then an acid should be added slowly with mixing, (do not use 100% sulfuric Acid), until an acceptable pH is achieved.
Paints and processed metals can leave hazardous components in the solutions which may require additional treatment. There can be substantial amounts of heavy metals such as zinc, copper, or chrome in the solution if the paints that are stripped contain these materials. These can be removed from the metal surface or be present in the pigments. It is best to contact your coatings manufacturer or get an outside analysis of the material before finalizing a disposal procedure for these products.
We recommend if possible obtaining and retaining safety data sheets or certificates of analysis for all processed paints.