Guidelines for care & Use of Dry Solvent Stills [Example]

14. Dr. Tobey – Lab Room # 2
For routine cleaning, wash using water, followed by acetone, and dry with paper towels. If the spill
contains oily materials first wash with acetone or hexanes and proceed as usual with above cleaning
protocol.
Acids: saturate area with sodium bicarbonate and allow to sit on benchtop . Wipe with paper towels
(dispose appropriately). Test area with pH paper and continue with sodium bicarbonate treatment until
neutral.
Bases: Soak area with dilute acetic acid, wipe and treat area as an acid spill area.
Organic solvent: spread vermiculite (or spill control material located in the solvent room # 20 in the
Loading Dock) over the spill area and dispose of the material in an appropriately labeled container.
Organic chemicals: Clean as for organic solvent but beware that the components mixtures vary and may
have a specific health hazard. Check MSDS and treat accordingly.
Heavy Metals: For small spills use aqueous solution of EDTA and wipe area thoroughly which should be
disposed of in separately labeled container.
Alkyl Lithium Reagents: If spilled, it will be extremely pyrophoric – treat by slowly added dry ice to it. DO
NOT POUR WATER onto the affected area.
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