ABSTRACT
Organic materials are encountered in hazardous wastes as organic solvents, solutions in organic solvents, solutions of organic compounds in water, emulsions, sludges, still bottoms, residuals, oils, greases, paint, solids, and organic pesticide wastes. There are millions of known organic compounds, most of which can be hazardous in some way and to some degree. Chemically, most organic compounds can be divided among hydrocarbons, oxygen-containing compounds, nitrogen-containing compounds, organohalides, sulfur-containing compounds, phosphorus-containing compounds, or combinations thereof. Hydrocarbons are organic compounds of carbon and hydrogen. The major types of hydrocarbons are alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, and aryl compounds. Sulfuric acid esters are used as alkylating agents, which act to attach alkyl groups to organic molecules in the manufacture of agricultural chemicals, dyes, and drugs. The phosphine oxides and sulfides are toxic. Many important organosulfur compounds also contain nitrogen. Sulfoxides and sulfones contain both sulfur and oxygen. Organohalides exhibit a wide range of physical and chemical properties.
