Laserfiche WebLink
5.1.1.7 Caustic Soda Beads (NaOH) <br /> Description: Caustic soda beads are granules of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) which are used to <br /> adjust the pH of sodium cyanide and Nokes reagent in the milling process. Caustic soda beads <br /> can also be used as a neutralizing material for acid spills or as a sodium cyanide or Nokes reagent <br /> neutralizer. <br /> Location: Nokes building, cyanide storage room at the mill, and moly dryer building. <br /> Spill Potential: Low. <br /> Potential Volume Spilled: One or two drums. <br /> Prevention and Control: Careful handling of drums and storage in low traffic areas are the best <br /> procedures for preventing spills. Containment in the cyanide storage room consists of a concrete <br /> berm and floor drain system. At the Nokes building and moly dryer building, caustic soda beads <br /> are stored in small quantities (several drums) so that spills can be controlled by the methods <br /> described below. <br /> Countermeasures: Spills of caustic soda beads can be contained by diking with sorbent booms. <br /> Using a pair of shovels, the spilled beads can be scooped up and placed in a clean drum for re- <br /> use. If contaminated with other materials or dirt, the caustic soda beads may have to be <br /> neutralized with sulfuric acid prior to disposal of the mixture in Climax' landfill (with the <br /> approval of the Environmental Coordinator). <br /> Nearest Clean-up Equipment: Nokes building has shovels for clean-up, as does the cyanide <br /> storage room. The nearest spill kit is located in the west end of the mill building.. The moly <br /> dryer building has no spill kit; however, the building is designed to route spills back to process. <br /> Portable kits (2) are available in mobile units driven by the Environmental Coordinator, WET <br /> Crew Foreman, and the pond technicians. <br /> Monitoring: During mill operation the Nokes building and the cyanide storage room are <br /> checked daily. Weekly checks are made during mill shutdown periods. <br /> Reporting: Spills of NaOH greater than 1000 pounds and those which threaten waters of the <br /> State of Colorado are subject to the reporting requirements of Sections 4.2, 4.3, and 4.4 of this <br /> SPCC Plan. Spills of more than 10 pounds should be reported to the Environmental Coordinator <br /> using the "Spill Incident Report" form given in Appendix 1. <br /> 16 <br />