Antifreeze has been "recycled" in many ways. The most pure ethylene glycol is obtained with a fractional distillation process, in which ethylene glycol is isolated and contaminants are virtually eliminated. Many filtration systems do not achieve the purity specifications required by warranties of equipment manufacturers. Filtration system users must be certain that the use of the filtered material is allowable under warranty requirements and they should routinely obtain laboratory test results to ensure that they are within warranty tolerances.

King County maintains two contracts for ethylene glycol antifreeze.  The first contract is for a ready-to-use, or diluted, antifreeze manufactured with re-refined ethylene glycol. The contractor supplies this product, maintains storage vessels for spent antifreeze at county facilities and hauls spent antifreeze away for re-refining. The contract further provides that the hauling will take place in a manner consistent with all federal, state, and local regulations. The second contract is for a concentrated product also manufactured with re-refined ethylene glycol.  This vendor supplies the Transit division, which takes the concentrated product and then mixes it at the Transit bases as needed.  The first contract (ready-to-use) has been in existence since 1991.  The second contract (concentrated) has been used since 1999.

County agencies, including Motor Pool, Solid Waste Operations, and the Renton Maintenance Facility have purchased antifreeze manufactured with re‑refined ethylene glycol since 1991. Metro Transit Division began using a concentrated re-refined ethylene glycol antifreeze product for buses in 1999. They introduce the necessary “additive packages” in the maintenance shops. In 2006, the county purchased 17,150 gallons of re-refined antifreeze, at a cost of over $60,000, and saved over $13,500 by its use.

King County agencies purchase re-refined antifreeze in ready-to-use and concentrated form and antifreeze recycling services through two term-contracts with local vendors. This section contains excerpts from the provisions of the Invitation-To-Bids that resulted in contracts.

Ready-to-use

A minimum of 50% of the ethylene glycol used in producing the antifreeze shall have been recycled at a permitted RCRA facility by means of fractional distillation process and the resulting antifreeze shall meet or exceed new product specifications.

The vendor shall certify that the recycling method utilized complies with current local, state, and federal regulations and that it is capable of recycling used antifreeze feedstock contaminated with incidental amounts of engine oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid, hydraulic fluid, solvent, gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil, and/or propylene glycol.
 

Vendor shall maintain local backup inventory and shall deliver antifreeze in varying bulk quantities at contract price within three (3) days of request by authorized County personnel at any County location.

Vendor shall provide dual-containment, self-berming polyethylene storage tanks to hold both new antifreeze and waste antifreeze which will be recycled. Tanks shall meet all applicable regulations.
 

Vendor shall provide training for County personnel on the proper use, testing and handling of antifreeze and compatible cooling additives at the County's request.
 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

 

Waste antifreeze shall be properly manifested and delivered to a permitted RCRA facility, recycled with water and ethylene glycol reclaimed and the contaminants incinerated as cement kiln fuel at an EPA permitted facility; nothing shall be sent to a landfill.

On-site recycling shall not be permitted.

Vendor shall provide emergency notification telephone numbers (other than normal business hours) to King County personnel in the event a tank starts leaking.

1) Remanufactured Antifreeze CONCENTRATE with Supplemental Coolant Additives (SCA)  $______

2) Waste Antifreeze (to be collected for recycling) $______

Concentrated antifreeze for Transit Division:

Technical Specification

A.  The contractor shall provide quality antifreeze, capable of maintaining satisfactory transit operations in the King County area.

The antifreeze shall:

• Have a useful life of 24 months, 100,000 miles or longer from the date of installation

• Contain a precharge dosage of a nitrate/borate approved SCA suitable for heavy-duty diesel engine use.

• Conform to SAE Information report on antifreeze (SAE J1941)

• Meet or exceed engine manufacturers warranty and maintenance specifications and requirements.  Examples:  Cummins - Engines; Detroit - Engines; Man - Engines.

B. If recycled ethylene glycol is used, it must be recycled through fractional distillation, re-refined and delivered in a concentrate that is not more than 5% water. On-site recycled product will not be considered.

C.  Only ethylene glycol based antifreeze shall be provided in a concentrated form, that is 5% or less water.  The specified antifreeze shall provide corrosion and cavitation protection and shall reduce the freeze point and increase the boiling point of the ethylene glycol based fluid.

D.  Antifreeze Requirements:

ITEM	VALUE	ASTM TEST
Freezing Point Concentrate 50% Solution	Max. - 18 degree C Max. - 37 degree C	D 1177 D 1177
Boiling Point Concentrate 50% Solution	Max. - 149 degree C Max. - 108 degree C	D 1120 D 1120
Specific Gravity Concentrate 20 degree C	1.11 - 1..14	D 1122
Ash Content Concentrate	Max 1.5% by weight	D 1119
pH Value:  50% Solution (DI water)	8.0 - 11.0	D 1287
Reserve Alkalinity:  50% Solution (DI water)	Vendor supply	D 1121
Foaming Behavior Volume Increase Foam Break	Max. 75 ml Max. 3 sec	D 1881 D 1881
Effect on car finish	None
Storage Stability	Min 1 year
Phosphate Content   Silicon	0   250 PPM Max	Meets or exceeds ASTM D4985 for "Low Silicate Ethylene Glyco engine coolant for heavy duty Diesel engines requiring an initial charge of SCA.   (Supplemental Coolant Additive)
Corrosion Inhibition Copper Solder Brass Steel Cast Iron Aluminum	Industry Standard 10 Max 30 Max 10 Max 10 Max 10 Max 30 Max	ASTM Test Method D 2570 D 2570 D 2570 D 2570 D 2570 D 2570
Glassware Corrosion Test Copper Solder Brass Steel Cast Iron Aluminum	Industry Standard 10 Max 30 Max 10 Max 10 Max 10 Max 30 Max	ASTM Test Method D 1384 D 1384 D 1384 D 1384 D 1384 D 1384
Aluminum Heat Rejection (mg/cm2/week)	.5 mg/cm2/week	D 4340
Cavitation & Erosion	8-10 rating	D2809

Test solution:  Water must not exceed 30 gpg hardness for the 50/50 mix. The 50/50 mixture must not exceed .03 pounds per gallon when mixed with de-ionized water.

For More Information

King County Motor Pool

(206)296-5050

King County Solid Waste Division

Operations - Cedar Hills Landfill

(206)296-4490

King County Metro Transit

Vehicle Maintenance Section

(206)684-1499

Further information may be available through the following main menu selections:

King County Recycled Content Supply Contracts
Resources for Buyers
Standard Paragraphs for Contracts

Vendor Information

King County's current supplier:

Emerald Services, (206)832-3000

E-mail

Return to Environmental Purchasing Menu

Updated: May, 2007

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