Disposal of laboratory chemicals

An account of the safe disposal of laboratory chemicals is given in Pitt, M. J., et al., Handbook of Laboratory Waste Disposal (Chichester Ellis Horwood, 1985). Detailed experimental procedures have been published on how to convert particularly reactive and toxic substances into less harmful products before their disposal see, for example. Hazardous Laboratory Chemicals Disposal Guide, 3rd ed., ed. M.-A. Armour (Boca Raton, FL CRC Press, 2003). Destruction of Hazardous Chemicals in the Laboratory, 2nd ed., ed. G. Lunn et al. (New York Wiley, 1994) contains methods for the degradation and disposal of the following chemicals ... 

In a nuclear accident, these problems have to be dealt with as an emergency whereas in the case of the decommissioning of a nuclear plant or the disposal of laboratory chemicals the problems can be approached within a longer time-scale. 

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA 42 USC 6901 et seq.) applies to waste reduction and disposal of laboratory chemicals from "cradle to grave." Laboratory workers should be aware of RCRA definitions of "generators" of different amounts and types of hazardous waste as described in Chapter 7, and of the legal limitations on moving and disposing of hazardous chemical waste as defined by RCRA. 

In an attempt to widen the scope of this work, unpublished information has been sought from many sources, both by published appeals and correspondence. In this latter area, the contribution made by a friend, the late Mr A. Kruk-Schuster, of Laboratory Chemicals Disposal Company, Ltd., Billericay, has been outstanding. During 1965-1968 his literature work and global letter campaign to 2000 University chemistry departments and industrial institutions yielded some 300 contributions. 

Responsible disposal of chemicals, samples and consumables is likewise an important aspect of good operating procedures in the laboratory. Regulations are fairly strict in terms of what may be disposed of into the drainage system. It may be permissible to dispose of some chemicals directly down the drain, flushed down with copious volumes of water. For other chemicals, specific disposal instructions, where available, must be followed. These will include collection of specific types of chemical waste in containers for disposal by incineration, landfill, etc. 

Small quantities of explosive laboratory chemicals can be destroyed following known methods. By adopting standard methods, it is possible to destroy or reduce the dangerous nature of laboratory chemicals and check their reaction. Hydrocarbons (e.g., alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, arenas) bum well and can be disposed of by incineration or as fuel supplants. Also, many hydrocarbons commonly used in chemical laboratories may be easily ignited. Some cyclic compounds such as alkanes and cyclohexane may form explosive peroxides. Personnel trained in handling explosives should destroy these compounds using detonation. Many poly(nitro) aromatic compounds are explosive, and their disposal requires the services of an expert. 

Store your chemicals in clearly labelled containers, and abide by the regulations concerning storage of solvents and other hazardous materials. Dispose of waste chemicals safely, according to the approved procedures for your laboratory. Never pour organic compounds down the sink. 

My last act of chemical warfare occurred about a month after classes started in the fall of 1945. Mr. Matt Thompson was in charge of Caltech grounds, and he was given the task of disposing of toxic chemicals from Yost s and Niemann s laboratories, many of which included small amounts of war gases. Niemann suggested that Thompson should contact me. I... 

My own experience in dealing with hazardous wastes dates back to 1982, when I sat on the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Hazardous Substances in the Laboratory. This group met every three months over a two-year period and summarized its findings in Prudent Practices for the Disposal of Chemicals from Laboratories. This book is considered an authoritative reference on the disposal of laboratory waste, and many of its procedures are included in this text. 

Manahan SE (1992) Toxicological Chemistry. Ann Arbor, MI, 138 National Research Coimcil (1995) Prudent Practices in the Laboratory Handling and Disposal of Chemicals. National Academy Press, Washington DC Yaws CL (1994) Handbook of Vapor Pressure, vol 2. Gulf, Houston, p 269 Perrin DD, Armarego WLF, Perrin DR (1980) Purification of Laboratory Chemicals, 2nd edn. Pergamon Press, New York... 

Special disposal considerations required chemicals, broken glass, living organisms such as bacterial cultures, protists, etc. Plan to dispose of wastes as directed by your teacher. Ask your teacher how to dispose of laboratory materials... 

Lefebvre, M., S. Fujiwara, and J. Asahina. 2005b. Disposal of nonstockpile chemical weapons by controlled detonation. Theory and Practice of Energetic Materials, Vol. 6, Proceedings of the 2005 International Autumn Seminar on Propellants, Explosives and Pyrotechnics. W. Yajun, H. Ping, and L. Shengcai, eds. Beijing, China State Key Laboratory of Explosion Science and Technology. 

Table 3 lists some common classes of laboratory chemicals that have potential for producing a violent explosion when subjected to shock or friction. These chemicals should never be disposed of as such, but shouldbe handled by procedures given in Prudent Practices for Disposal of Chemicals from Laboratories, National Academy Press, 1983, chapters 6 and 7. Additional information on these, as well as on some less common classes of explosives, can be found in L. Bretherick, Handbook of Reactive Chemical Hazards, 3rd ed., Butterworths, London-Boston, 1985. 

CFR1910.1200(g)(6)( iii) 29CFR1910.1200(g)(8) 29CFR1910.1450(f)(3)(v) 4.1.5 The manufacturer s Material Safety Data Sheet shall be obtained for all new chemical purchases and shall be made readily available to those who receive, store, use or dispose of the chemicals. In laboratories subject to 29CFR1910.1450, other reference materials may be used. 

CFR1910.1450(f)(3)(v) 4.2.1.4 The location and availability of known reference material on the hazards, safe handling, storage and disposal of hazardous chemicals found in the laboratory including, but not limited to. Material Safety Data Sheets received from the chemical supplier. 

---