Scharlab - AMCO Instruments, SRL

www.scharlab.comDisposal of laboratory wasteThe wise choiceacid. Addition of sodium hydrogen sulfite solution thencauses elemental selenium to precipitate out.Aqueous phase: Container no. VII.18. Carcinogenic beryllium and its salts must be handledwith special caution. Be sure to avoid inhalation and skincontact: Container no. III.19. Radioactive uranium and thorium compounds must bedisposed of in compliance with local laws and regulationsof each country.20. Inorganic mercury residues: Elementary mercury can betaken up with Mercurisorb ® (Carl Roth GmbH, Germany):Container no. IV.21. Cyanides should first be oxidized to cyanates with hydrogenperoxide at pH 10-11. Further addition of oxidant at pH8-9 oxidizes the cyanates to CO 2 : Container no. VII.Azides are decomposed to nitrogen by reacting them withiodine in presence of sodium thiosulfate: Container no. VII.22. Inorganic peroxides and oxidants, as well as bromine andiodine, can be rendered harmLess by reduction with acidicsodium thiosulfate solution: Container no. VII.23. Hydrogen fluoride and solutions of inorganic fluorides must behandled with the utmost caution. Do not permit contact underany circumstances and be sure to work under an efficientfume cupboard with the front screen closed. Precipitateresidues with calcium carbonate to obtain calcium fluoride.Precipitate: Container no. II.Filtrate: Container no. VII.24. Residues of liquid inorganic halides and hydrolysissensitive reagents should be carefully stirred a dropat a time into ice-cool 10% sodium hydroxide solution:Container no. III.25. White phosphorus exposed to air is oxidized in an exothermicreaction to phosphorus pentoxide. This is why it must bepermanently stored under water. White phosphorus isextremely toxic and must be handled with great care. Pleasecontact an authorized disposal company.Red phosphorus is not toxic. It must not come into contactwith oxidizing substances: Container no. II.Phosphorus compounds should be oxidized under aninert gas in an efficient fume cupboard with the frontscreen closed. For each gram of phosphorus compound,measure out a 100mL aliquot of 5% sodium hypochloritesolution, containing 5mL of 50% sodium hydroxide solutionand carefully add the substance solution to be inactivated,a drop at a time, under ice cooling. Add calcium hydroxideand filter off the precipitating phosphates. Precipitate:Container no. II.Aqueous solutions: Container no. VII.26. Alkali metals should be taken up in an inert solventand inactivated by stirring and drop wise addition of2-propanol. Important: Hydrogen is formed and mayform explosive mixtures, so conduct the gas through atube directly to the extractor tubing. When the reactionhas finished, add water a drop at a time: Container no. VII.In the case of alkali borohydrides, add methanol under stirring.In the case of alkali amides and hydrides add 2-propanoldrop wise under stirring. When the respective reaction hasfinished, hydrolyze with water: Container no. VII.To destroy lithium aluminium hydride, slurry in an ether.Under an inert gas and under thorough stirring, add, adrop at a time, a 1:4 mixture of ethyl acetate and ether.Ensure that none of the reagent solution touches thesides of the flask, as this may lead to small pockets ofresidue which do not completely react: Container no. V.27. Residues containing valuable recoverable metals.Container no. III.28. Aqueous solutions: Container no. VII.29. Aluminium alkyls are extremely hydrolysis-sensitive. Theyshould be diluted with an inert solvent under protectivegas, followed by the dropwise addition of 1-octanol and,once the reaction has ceased, subsequently of water.Container no. X.30. The laboratory detergents nowadays available arebiodegradable and do not contaminate the environment.However, if they have been used to eliminate substanceswhich are harmful to the environment, collect the washwater in Container no. VII.31. Natural substances, e.g. carbohydrates, amino acidsand other aqueous residues typical of a biochemicallaboratory: Container no. VII.When mixed with organic solvents or reagents: Containerno. V or no. VI.32. Chromatography residuesAggressive or toxic substances absorbed in the stationaryphase of layers or columns must be eliminated by elutionor wash out, before disposal. The solvents used have to beclassified according to their properties. Larger quantitiesof stationary phase should be freed from solvents (dryingor vacuum) and then packed in resistant plastic bags:Container no. II. TLC plates and HPLC columns can bedisposed together with contaminated solids. Containerno. 0.Disposal of laboratory wasteScharlab The Lab Sourcing Group365