Chemicals Not to Be Given Away to Other Labs
Introduction
When a lab closes or as a Principal Investigator nears retirement, the PI or department may choose to distribute the chemicals to other labs. For some chemicals, this is okay because they are stable and have a long shelf life. For other chemicals, due to degradation over time or inherent hazardous properties, it is not safe to “gift” the chemicals to another laboratory. This fact sheet outlines chemicals that may be commonly found in biomedical/molecular biological laboratories that should NOT be given away to other labs.
NOTE: This is not a comprehensive list of potentially dangerous chemicals that should not be given away to other labs. Labs should review chemical specific Safety Data Sheets to understand the hazards and storage concerns of “gifted” or “inherited” chemicals before accepting them. Additional recommended reading: Peroxides and Peroxide Forming Chemicals fact sheet, Picric Acid fact sheet.
This fact sheet is not intended to replace the Safety Data Sheet provided by the manufacturer.
Chemicals of Concern
| Chemical/ Product Name | Synonyms | CAS # | When to Dispose | Why Dispose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Butanol | Butan-2-ol; sec-Butanol; SEC-BUTYL ALCOHOL | 78-92-2 | Unopened, > 18 months old Opened, > 1 year old | Degrades into potentially explosive peroxide. Shock/movement sensitive. DO NOT MOVE. PLACE WARNING SIGNAGE AT STORAGE LOCATION. CONTACT OEHS FOR DISPOSAL. |
| 2-Propanol | Isopropyl alcohol; isopropanol; Propan-2-ol | 67-63-0 | Unopened, 18 months; Opened, 1 year | Degrades into potentially explosive peroxide. Shock/movement sensitive. DO NOT MOVE. PLACE WARNING SIGNAGE AT STORAGE LOCATION. CALL OEHS FOR DISPOSAL. |
| Bouin's Solution | Counterstain II; Fixative or staining solutions containing picric acid. | All containers. | IF LIQUID TO SOLID RATIO IS < 10%, DO NOT MOVE. CONTACT OEHS FOR DISPOSAL. EXPLOSION RISK. Solid form is friction, movement sensitive. See OEHS Picric Acid Fact Sheet for more information. | |
| Chloroform | Trichloromethane; Trichlormethan; Formyl trichloride | 67-66-3 | With alcohol-based stabilizer, > 3 years old Without stabilizer, > 1 year old | Degrades to form phosgene (a highly toxic gas) in the presence of oxygen and UV light. Do NOT open. |
| Diethyl Ether | ether; Ethyl ether; Ethoxyethane | 60-29-7 | > 12 months old | Degrades into potentially explosive peroxides. Shock/movement sensitive. DO NOT MOVE. PLACE WARNING SIGNAGE AT STORAGE LOCATION. CALL OEHS FOR DISPOSAL. |
| Dioxane | 1,4-DIOXANE; p-Dioxane; Diethylene ether | 123-91-1 | > 12 months old | Degrades into potentially explosive peroxides. Shock/movement sensitive. DO NOT MOVE. PLACE WARNING SIGNAGE AT STORAGE LOCATION. CALL OEHS FOR DISPOSAL. |
| Nitric Acid in High Density Polyethylene bottles | Azotic acid; Salpetersaeure; Aqua fortis | 7697-37-2 | > 2 years old | The HDPE bottle degrades over time, loses integrity. Risk of leaks, spills, and splashes on personnel. |
| Picric acid | Trinitrophenol; 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol; Carbazotic acid | 88-89-1 | All containers. Picric acid has a shelf life of about 2 years. | IF LIQUID TO SOLID RATIO IS < 10%, DO NOT MOVE. CALL OEHS FOR DISPOSAL. EXPLOSION RISK. Solid form is friction, movement sensitive. See OEHS Picric Acid Fact Sheet for more information. |
Disposal
- Peroxides and Peroxide-forming chemicals – If a container of PFC has visible solid precipitate in the liquid; very fine, spun glass-wool appearance in the liquid; incrustation around cap; layer separation (an oily viscous layer); visible discoloration/cloudiness; or container is excessively old:
- Do not attempt to move or open suspect container
- Warn co-workers and supervisors of hazard
- Restrict access to surrounding area
- Call OEHS (7-1200) immediately
- Picric Acid or Picric Acid Containing solutions – If there is greater than 10% liquid in the container relative to any solids present, submit a Chemical Waste Pickup Request. If there is less than 10% liquid in the container relative to any solids present:
- Do not attempt to move or open suspect container
- Warn co-workers and supervisors of hazard
- Restrict access to surrounding area
- Call OEHS (7-1200) immediately
- All other expired chemicals, submit a Chemical Waste Pickup Request.
References
- Potential Phosgene Release from Expired Chloroform. The University of Tennessee. 2020.
- Lesson Learned from a Fire during Distillation: Choose the Appropriate Condenser. American Chemical Society – Journal of Chemical Health & Safety. 2023.
- Nitric Acid Container Integrity (University of Texas at Austin, Environmental Health & Safety); 2021. Product Expiration Policy, Seastar Chemicals; 2023.
- Management of Time Sensitive Chemicals: (I) Misconceptions Leading To Incidents; (II) Their Identification, Chemistry, and Management; (III) Stabilization and Treatment. American Chemical Society – Journal of Chemical Health & Safety, 2006.
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