CHEMCIAL STORAGE

SEGREGATE CHEMICALS—Flammable solvents from acids and oxidizers, inorganic acids from inorganic bases, nitric acid from organic acids, and inorganic acids from cyanide.

• LABEL PEROZIDE-FORMING chemicals with the date received and the date opened.
• PURCHASE SMALL QUANTITIES of chemicals; the cost of their disposal has become prohibitive.
• STORE over 10 gallons of flammable liquids only in an approved flammable storage cabinet.
• KEEP FLAMMABLES IN REFRIGERATORS or freezers that are listed as nonflammable or explosion proof.
• SECURE COMPRESSED GAS CYLINDERS WITH CHAINS TO IMMOVABLE OBJECTS, PREFERABLE A WALL.  Make sure that each cylinder with a regulator is individually secured.
• ANCHOR all shelves and storage cabinets. Provide seismic bars on open chemical shelves.
• READ MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets). See sample on page 15.
• MAINTAIN a clean, organized work environment.

Surplus chemical procedures

Collect surplus/unused chemicals – redistribute unused chemicals to other users or dispose with EH&S.

Attempt to return unused chemicals to vendor

Label all used chemicals for identification purposes

OPERATIONAL

Review each experimental protocol to assure that chemical usage is minimized.

Reduce volumes used in experiments – use microscale procedures

Use less hazardous substitutes when feasible

Instead of wet chemical techniques, use instrumental methods – these generally require smaller amounts of chemicals

Consider using off-site analytical services

Reuse spent solvent for initial cleaning, use fresh solvent only for final rinse

Substitute specialty detergents for sulfuric acid/chromic acid cleaning solutions

Substitute water soluble/biodegradable scintillation fluids for toluene based fluids

Distill and reuse solvents

Neutralize wastes in final step of experiment

Avoid mixing hazardous and non-hazardous waste

Review the literature for additional techniques applicable to your particular processes

For more information on chemical waste minimization call Environment, Health & Safety at 68692 or go to their web site.