EPA regulation 40 CFR 261 establishes that any used or waste oil containing greater than 1000 ppm organic chloride may have to be classified as a hazardous waste. EPA estimates that approximately 500 million gallons of used oil and 2 million tons of hazardous waste oil are burned yearly.

In response to the November 1985 rule prohibiting the burning of used oils containing greater than 1000 ppm total halogens in non-industrial burners, the Clor-D-Tect 1000™ kit was developed. This field portable test kit is based on the detection of the total amount of chlorine in an oil sample.

A complete test requires approximately 7 minutes and is ideal for on-the-spot checks by enforcement agencies as well as used oil generators, sellers, blenders and burners. This paper gives results from field studies and gives recommendations for use of the test method.