Marine Lab Policies, Procedures and Protocols
Hazards and Safety -- Chemical Safety Policy
SUBJECT: Chemical Waste Disposal/Storage Procedures Policy
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Individuals in any lab that deals with chemicals, toxic or non-toxic, should see the Duke Marine Lab Chemical Safety Officer for a copy of the University CHEMICAL HYGIENE PLAN
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Every effort shall be made to dispose of chemicals in such a way as not to endanger personnel, property or pollute air and water.
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Under no circumstances should chemicals of any type be stored in the attic of any building.
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Any student or visiting researcher should ensure that all chemicals are properly disposed of prior to leaving the Marine Lab, especially unlabeled containers. See the Chemical Safety Officer for assistance.
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Each PI should maintain a safety notebook containing the following:
- Fire Guide
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Chemical Inventory
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Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
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Chemical Hygiene Plan
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Animal Care Protocols
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Do not dispose of dangerous chemicals in a trash can or dumpster since they may cause serious injury to sanitation personnel.
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Empty reagent containers may be disposed of normally after thoroughly cleaning any residue from the container.
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Each research and teaching laboratory will be provided with one five-gallon safety can for the disposal of waste solvents on request. These cans should be stored under a hood with secondary containment and appropriate waste accumulation labels (available from the compliance officer) while being filled.
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To have full cans removed and replaced with empty ones, contact the Compliance Officer.
- In compliance with government regulations concerning the disposal of the chemicals, it is imperative that the following guidelines be used:
- Goggles, gloves, lab coat and under certain conditions, a proper chemical mask, should be worn when handling known toxic chemical waste.
- In an effort to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals, it is not recommended that any lab engage in reduction of toxic waste via detoxification procedures. However, if you feel there is a need in your lab to do so, contact the Compliance Officer for proper procedures.
- All spent reaction mixtures, old chemicals and the like must be placed in separate suitable containers and individually labeled as to their contents. Contact the Compliance Officer to schedule a pick-up as soon as these containers are identified as waste. This also applies to labs which are being vacated, insofar as unlabeled containers of chemicals can lead to costly testing procedures prior to disposal. The trucks transporting these chemicals can be searched at state boundaries and the carrier can be fined up to $10,000 for transporting an unlabeled container.
- Do not place reactive substances in the solvent cans in the laboratories. The contents of these cans may be transferred to metal drums and buried. If the drums contain substances that can react with the metal, the drums will be destroyed and the environment contaminated. Waste acids and bases should be neutralized and poured down the sink. Never place waste acids or bases or bromine, etc., in the waste solvent cans. Every entry into the waste accumulation container must be logged on the accumulation label provided.
- If you have material to be picked up, contact the Compliance Officer.
You must supply the Compliance Officer with the following information
before the pick-up can be completed:
Proper chemical name (no abbreviations or formulas)
Solid or liquid
Concentration of chemical
All containers to be picked up must be in a flat bottomed container and sealed with a screw cap. If there is a problem with the seal, para-film may be used over the cap (NOT IN PLACE OF) to secure a proper seal. A label with at least the above information must be affixed to the container. If you have any questions as to the proper disposal procedures for any given chemical please contact either the Compliance Officer or the University Safety Office on the main campus (919-684-5609).
- Only those organic compounds that are reasonably soluble in water
are suitable for drain disposal.
- Alcohols
Alkanols with less than 5 carbon atoms (t-Amyl alcohol)
Alcanediols with less than 8 carbon atoms (Glycerol)
Sugars and sugar alcohols
2-Chloroethanol - Aldehydes
Aliphatic Aldehydes with less than 5 carbon atoms - Amides
Amides with less than 5 carbon atoms
Di-Akyl amides with less than 11 carbon atoms - Amines
Aliphatic amines with less than 7 carbon atoms
Aliphatic diamines with less than 7 carbon atoms
Benzylamine
Pyridine - Carboxylic acids
Carboxylic acids with less than 7 carbon atoms - Esters
Esters with less than 4 carbon atoms (Isopropyl acetate) - Ethers
Tetrahydrofuran
Dioxolane
Dioxane - Drain disposal is permissible for dilute solutions of inorganic
salts in which both cation and anion exhibit low toxic hazards.
Cations Anions Al+3 BO3-3 Ca+3 Br - Fe+3,+2 CO3-2 H+ Cl- K+ HSO-3 Li+ OCN- Mg+2 OH- Na+ I- NH+4 NO-3 Sn+2 PO4-3 Sr+2 SO4-2 Ti+3,+4 SCN- Zn+2 Zr+2 - To prevent the accumulation of flammable solvents which could present a fire and safety hazard, all flammables should be stored in approved cabinets which are available in Lab 5 and Lab 7; contact the Compliance Officer for specific locations. The containers should be labeled properly and have your name on them. If anyone in any other building thinks there is a need for one of these cabinets, please see the Compliance Officer.
- The transfer of toxic/poisonous chemicals from room to room or from building to building should be done so with extreme care. In the case of transferring bottles of toxic/poisonous liquids, a portable rubber or plastic sleeve with a handle should be employed. These may be found in Room 209 of Bookhout Research Lab (Lab 7).
- Alcohols