HAZARDOUS WASTE

Waste Minimization Program:  Integrated Laboratory Treatment

Restrictions

Before implementing any chemical waste treatment methods, be sure to integrate these methods into the written experimental design. If they are not included as part of the experiment, they will be considered as a separate treatment for which regulatory permits are required. If neither of these criteria are met (integration or permit) your lab may be cited and fined. Also, before you treat or dispose of any waste into the drain or the trash, you should consult with personnel at Environmental Health & Safety (x4305).

Types of treatment (always check with regulatory agencies before implementing any Tx)

  1. Neutralization (Waste acidsand bases)
  2. Cyanide compounds (hydrochloride solution) Cyanides*
  3. Volumetric Reduction of Dilute Solution of Inorganic Salts *
  4. Destruction of Hydroperoxides in Ethers and Alkenes *
  5. Disposal Reactions for oxalic acid, sodium oxalate and oxalyl chloride *
  6. Disposal Reactions for N-Bromosuccinimide and N-Chlorosuccinimide*
  7. Decomposition of Dimethyl Sulfate and Diethyl sulfate*
  8. N,N-dimethylformamide and N,N-Dimethylacetamide*
  9. Solutions of Picric Acid*
  10. Nitriles*
  11. Organic Azides*
  12. Aromatic Amines*
  13. Iodine*
  14. Bromine*
  15. Oxidizing Agents*
  16. Inorganic Azides*
  17. Solutions Containing Heavy Metal Ions*
  18. Solution Containing Mercury ions*
  19. Solutions Containing Chromium Ions*
  20. Metal Carbonyls*
  21. Ethidium Bromide

*See Environmental Health & Safety for reprints from Reinhart, P.A., Leonard, K.L., Ashbrook, P.C. Pollution Prevention and Waste Minimization in Laboratories. CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1996.


More references

Chohji, T, et al., "Removal efficiency of heavy metals from laboratory wastewater containing ligands by an aluminum hydroxide co-precipitation system", Environmental Technology, Vol. 11, pp. 421-428 (1990).

Foust, D.F., "Recovery of silver and cobalt from laboratory wastes", Journal of Chemical Education, 64, pg. 924 (1984).

Gajda, A., "Disposal of mercury in chloride-reagent waste", Clinical Chemistry, Vol 25:5, pg. 807 (1979).

Lunn, G. and E.B. Sansone, Destruction of Hazardous Chemicals in the Laboratory, John Wiley and Sons, New York (1990).

McKusick, B.C., "Procedures for laboratory destruction of chemicals", Journal of Chemical Education, 61, pp. A152-A154 (1986).

National Research Concil, Prudent Practices for Disposal of Chemicals from Laboratories, National Academy Press, Washington, DC, 1983.