Disposal of Chemicals

Careful disposal is required in three commonly encountered situations in laboratories  

Organic Chemist s Desk Reference, Second Edition 

A Partial List of Incompatible Chemicals—Reactive Hazards 

Substances in the left-hand column should be stored and handled so that they cannot possibly accidentally contact corresponding substances in the right-hand column under uncontrolled conditions, when violent reactions may occur. 

Acetic acid Acetic anhydride Acetone Acetylene 

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There has been a tremendous increase in regulatory activities worldwide aimed at achieving safer manufacture, use, and disposal of chemicals, including colorants (380). Table 1 is a summary of important United States, European, and Japanese Environmental Legislation affecting workers, consumers, and the pubhc and environment (381). 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Guide to the Disposal of Chemically Stabilized and Solidified Waste", SW-872, Office of Water and Waste Management, Washington, D.C., 1980. 

All toxic materials were disposed of in accordance with "Prudent Practices for Disposal of Chemicals from Laboratories" National Academy Press Washington, DC, 1995. 

A number of environmental issues have received widespread publicity (Table 7.1), from major accidents at plants (e.g., Seveso and Bhopal) to the global and regional impacts associated with energy utilization (e.g., carbon dioxide, acid rain, and photochemical oxidants), the improper disposal of chemical waste (e.g., Love Canal and Times Beach), and chemicals that have dispersed and bioaccumulated affecting wildlife (e.g., PCBs and DDT) and human health (e.g., cadmium, mercury, and asbestos). 

Industrial laboratories often handle a relatively limited number of chemicals. Since many of these same chemicals are also used on a manufacturing scale, their disposal will have already been planned for by plant personnel. Disposal of chemicals used only in the laboratory, however, for investigative and development purposes must also be considered, as well as reagents used for testing. 

The aim of this handbook is to provide a source of rapid ready-reference to help in the often complex task of handling, using and disposing of chemicals safely and with minimum risk to people s health or damage to facilities or to the environment. 

Dispose of chemical wastes as directed by your teacher. 

The Department of Defense Authorization Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-145) directed the Secretary of Defense to destroy all lethal unitary chemical munitions and agents by September 30, 1994, including organophosphate nerve agents such as GB. The act was amended in 1988 (Public Law 100-456) to allow for complete disposal of chemical munitions by April 1997. 

Site contamination generally results from leakage, spillage, or disposal of industrial wastes, and can arise from the past uncontrolled disposal of chemical wastes or any recent negligence. Contaminated sites are a threat to human beings by the following means of contamination ... 

A chloroform solution of toxic tributyltin fluoride was placed in a round-bottomed flask equipped with a reflux condenser, and bromine (3 equiv per Bu3SnF) was added all at once. After the mixture was stirred for 2-3 days at room temperature, aqueous sodium thiosulfate was added until the brown color of bromine disappeared. The aqueous layer containing inorganic tin compounds.was disposed of in accordance with Prudent Practices for Disposal of Chemicals from Laboratories" National Academic Press Washington, DC, 1983. 

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