With the ever more awareness of our lasting effect on our planet, it is imperative that used grinding fluid is disposed of properly. Depending on the type of emulsion used and
the area in which you live the method of disposal varies. One fact still remains; it is not an acceptable practice to just dump it out the back door. In some areas of the country,
depending on your local water municipality, the disposal of the biodegradable emulsion may be as easy as separating the solids out and diluting the mixture further with fresh
water and pouring down the drain. To find out if this is the case in your area, simply take two samples, one straight from the tank and another diluted with a known quantity
of water, along with a copy of the MSDS to your local municipality to be tested. Make sure there are no solids or anything floating in the mixture. After the test they will let you
know what steps you should take. In the case of the mineral oil and silicone based emulsion the used fluid will need to be stored in a containment vessel such as a 55 gallon
drum to be picked up by a licensed waste disposal company. Prices will vary depending on your location but expect to pay at least $100 per 55 gallon drum for disposal.
There are several things you can do to prolong the life of your grinding fluid such as:
1. Making sure the emulsion is incorporated into the water properly by using a mixer and refractometer.
2.. Keep the grinding fluid clean by keeping the filter medium clean.
3. Top off the tank with premixed fluid instead of fresh water to keep the ratio correct.
4. Maintain the grinding fluid using the Pro-Tec Analysis Kit
5.. If the machine isn’t going to be used daily turn it on and let it run for 30 minutes with the gate values open to aerate the water, this will prevent the mixture from “souring”.