Flash point $65^{\circ}\text{C}$, alcohol content $<14\%$ by volume
pH 10.9 (lime-based floor cleaner)
Ignitability threshold
Flash point $<60^{\circ}\text{C}$ (aqueous alcohol solutions $<24\%$ by volume are exempt regardless of flash point)
—
Corrosivity threshold
—
pH $\le 2$ or pH $\ge 12.5$
Find. Whether each waste is classified as hazardous by the ignitability (a) or corrosivity (b) characteristic.
Approach. Compare each waste's measured property against the regulatory characteristic threshold for the relevant test.
Waste (a) — ignitability test. The ignitable-liquid threshold is a flash point below $60^{\circ}\text{C}$ ($140^{\circ}\text{F}$). Here the flash point is $65^{\circ}\text{C}$, which is above the threshold, so the liquid is not ignitable on that basis alone. As a second, independent check: aqueous solutions containing less than 24% alcohol by volume are specifically exempt from the ignitability characteristic regardless of flash point, and this waste's $<14\%$ alcohol content falls well inside that exemption. Both checks agree:
$$65^{\circ}\text{C} > 60^{\circ}\text{C}\ \Rightarrow\ \boxed{\text{Waste (a) is NOT hazardous by ignitability}}$$
Waste (b) — corrosivity test. The corrosivity threshold for an aqueous waste is pH $\le 2$ or pH $\ge 12.5$. The floor cleaner's measured pH is 10.9, which is below the upper threshold of 12.5 (and far above the lower threshold of 2):
$$2 < 10.9 < 12.5\ \Rightarrow\ \boxed{\text{Waste (b) is NOT hazardous by corrosivity}}$$
Final results
Waste
Measured property
Threshold
Hazardous?
(a)
Flash point $65^{\circ}\text{C}$, $<14\%$ alcohol
Ignitable if FP $<60^{\circ}\text{C}$ (and not alcohol-exempt)
No
(b)
pH 10.9
Corrosive if pH $\le2$ or $\ge12.5$
No
Check: neither waste is evaluated here against the toxicity (TCLP) or reactivity characteristics, since the question supplies only a flash point/alcohol content for (a) and a pH for (b) — a full hazard determination would also require checking those two remaining characteristics before a waste could be certified non-hazardous overall.
