A southbound lane on I-55 in Pevely was closed for several hours Tuesday, after a ruptured drum containing acrylic polymer ink began leaking from the back of a tractor-trailer traveling along the interstate, authorities reported.
Pevely Police contacted the Dunklin Fire Protection District around 4:45 p.m. about the substance leaking from the big rig. There was no accident, but Dunklin Fire blocked off the right lane at about 4:45 p.m., Assistant Chief Michael McClain said.
He said Dunklin Fire left the scene at about 8:15 p.m.
However, the lane remained blocked off after that while Environmental Works of Arnold finished cleaning up the area, Jefferson County Hazardous Material Team Deputy Chief Dave Brown said.
The Jefferson County Hazardous Material team investigated the spill and determined the substance was an ink that is used to coat and seal cardboard boxes, Brown said.
“We weren’t sure what it was, because there was a mixed load (in the trailer) of paints, inks and potassium hydroxide, which is a very strong base that reacts with water and aluminum,” he said.
Brown said the hazardous material team was able to catch most of the substance that was leaking from the trailer, but some of the ink did spill onto the ground.
Brown said the ink is not a health risk, but the hazardous material team proceeded with caution because initially emergency personnel thought the substance might be dangerous.
“We were cautious, thinking it was potassium hydroxide until we were able to get pH readings,” Brown said. “We thought it was (potassium hydroxide) because it was forming icicles on the back of the trailer. Potassium hydroxide reacts to water and aluminum. Once we were able to open (the trailer) up and found out what else was being hauled, it made more sense that it was acrylic polymer because it is really thick and formed the icicles.”
Brown said some of the ink had to be removed from dirt on the side of the interstate, which kept the lane shut down after Dunklin Fire and the hazardous material team left the area.