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Previous by Date: Subject: Re: Hood Sash Cables Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:29:22 -0600 Author: "Clark, Richard C" |
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When working with small spills (eg. 20mL or less) which can normally be disposed of by lab pack, any absorbent material determined to safely work on that particular material will work. You can always find the best way to clean up specific chemical spills on the chemical MSDS. However, when working with larger spills (those that cannot easily be disposed of by lab pack) the cost of disposal will differ significantly between absorbent pads and loose material. As I'm sure you can conclude for the material within an absorbent pad to be stabilized you have to either breakdown the pad or incinerate it. For loose material stabilizing the chemical is much easier. If you are looking for a universal type spill kit then some type of earthen material will most likely be the most economical option. If you are looking to create spill kits particular to the chemicals your labs will be using, there are multiple products on the market that are made for specific chemicals (eg. Mercury, Solvents, HF). I would definitely check your federal and state regulations for disposal of spill material for the chemicals used in your labs; or you could just check with your chemical disposal company. I personally have a preference when I am treating spill waste (pads are very hard to stabilize), but both pads and powders have their advantages. Pads are great for containing spills to one area, but are difficult to pack up for disposal. Powders can have positive properties like neutralizing agents, vapor suppressants, color changing, but they also can be hard to pick up and can produce extremely exothermic reactions. At our site we use both, but each spill is evaluated and the best method of clean up for that spill is used. Kadye Hill Research & Development Chemist Waste Control Specialists LLC Phone: 575-394-4300 ext. 104 -----Original Message----- From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Margaret Rakas Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 3:08 PM To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: [DCHAS-L] Setting Up Spill Kits... Hi, We're setting up a new 'wet' science building and while we have 'spill kits' here, I would like to find out what others find useful to keep on hand and deal with: 1) Small (1 gallon or less) solvent spills --acetone, ethanol, the like 2) Acid/base spills I am particularly interested whether you have chosen to go with the 'universal' sorbent pads OR instead use a powder that (at least in the case of acid/base spills) neutralizes. I can see the benefit from a powder for flammable spills--there isn't the issue of packaging a solvent-soaked combustible pad for safety, until the next lab pack--but I would think that using a neutralizing agent pretty much means the vapors are going to lead you into respirator use. Any products or methods you've loved, please let me know! Many thanks, Margaret Margaret A. Rakas, Ph.D. Manager, Inventory & Regulatory Affairs Clark Science Center Smith College Northampton, MA. 01063 p: 413-585-3877 f: 413-585-3786
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