To ask a question : email to chemwaste@cornell.edu
Table of Chemical Wastes - Frequently Asked Questions
Table of Chemical Wastes : This table presents information on a variety of chemical wastes. The table is organized alphabetically. For each chemical the associated hazards are listed, as well as the recommended disposal procedure.
| Chemical Name | Hazards | Disposal Method |
|
6-aminohexanoic Acid |
irritant, (a nonessential amino acid) |
this can go in the trash |
|
Acrylamide (electrophoresis grade) |
cancer suspect agent, acutely toxic (EPA definition) |
If you have the means (N,N'-methylene bisacrylamide,) polymerize the acrylamide to form polyacrylamide (non-toxic) which you can throw in the trash. Otherwise, submit this to EH&S for chemical waste disposal. |
|
Agarose |
none listed |
this can go in the trash |
|
aminopterin |
an antimetabolyte used as a rodenticide - interferes with metabolism of folic acid |
low concentrations (<10%) can go in the trash, otherwise submit this to EH&S for chemical waste disposal. |
|
Antifoam A Emulsion |
none listed |
This is a soap and can go down the drain with lots of water to dilute it |
|
beta-Propiol-actone |
strong skin irritant, cancer suspect agent |
Submit this to EH&S for chemical waste disposal. |
|
Calcium Acetate |
none listed |
this can go in the trash |
|
Coomassie Blue Stain |
irritant |
If this is dissolved in water, it can go down the drain (with additional water to help dilute it) If its dissolved in a solvent submit it to EH&S for chemical waste disposal. |
|
Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) |
irritant, combustible liquid, can carry other chemicals across the skin barrier, some people find the odor unappealing |
Submit this to EH&S for chemical waste disposal. |
|
Glyoxal |
irritant, mixture of vapor and air can explode |
In solution this can go down the drain. In solid form, this should be submited to EH&S for chemical waste disposal. |
|
Guanidine Thiocyanate |
irritant |
Because the other guanidine salts are toxic, and because people might be uncomfortable about the "cyanate" in the name, you should submit this to EH&S for chemical waste disposal. |
|
HAT Suppliment (contains sodium hypoxanthine, aminopterin, and thymidine) |
Aminopterin is a rodenticide |
If the concentration of aminopterin in these supplements is less than 10%, they can go in the trash. |
|
HT Suppliment (contains sodium hypoxanthine, aminopterin, and thymidine ) |
Aminopterin is a rodenticide |
If the concentration of aminopterin in these supplements is less than 10%, they can go in the trash. |
|
Isopropyl beta-D-thiogalacto Pyranoside |
may contain doxane (a cancer suspect agent) |
If your container states that it is 'dioxane free' it can go in the trash, otherwise submit this to EH&S for chemical waste disposal. |
|
Kodak developer |
none listed but a common ingredient, hydroquinone, is a cancer suspect agent |
Unused developer should be useable by someone on campus, check if the surplus chemical exchange can take it jht1@cornell.edu. If your developer contains hydroquinone in concentrations greater than 1%, submit it to EH&S for chemical waste disposal, otherwise it can go down the drain |
|
Kodak photographic fixer |
(Stock solution) none listed (used fixer) contains silver |
If the fixer solution is used contact silver recyclers to get the silver out, if they can't help, submit it for chemical waste disposal. Unused fixer solutions should be useable by someone else on campus; contact the surplus chemical exchange manager jht1@cornell.edu, otherwise the solutions can go down the drain. |
|
Magnesium Chloride |
low toxicity |
This can go in the trash |
|
N,N'-Methylenebisacrylamide |
toxic |
if you can polymerize this with acrylamide to make polyacrylamide (A non-toxic) the polymer can go in the trash otherwise submit this to EH&S for chemical waste disposal. |
|
Polyethylene Glycol |
none listed |
this can go in the trash |
|
Potassium Hydroxide Pellets |
in solution these are corrosive |
If you have any waste mineral acids (hydrochloric, nitric, sulfuric, phosporic...) that need neutralization, save these for that purpose, otherwise submit this to EH&S for chemical waste disposal. |
|
Protogel - contains 30% acrylamide and 0.8% bisacrylamide |
cancer suspect agent, acutely toxic (EPA definition) |
If you have the means (N,N'-methylene bisacrylamide,) polymerize the acrylamide to form polyacrylamide (non-toxic) which you can throw in the trash. Otherwise submit this to EH&S for chemical waste disposal. |
|
Pyridine |
flammable liquid, toxic, strong odor |
Submit to EH&S for chemical waste disposal |
|
Sodium Hydroxide Pellets |
in solution these are corrosive |
If you have any waste mineral acids (hydrochloric, nitric, sulfuric, phosporic...) that need neutralization, save these for that purpose, otherwise submit this to EH&S for chemical waste disposal. |
|
sodium hypoxanthine |
none listed |
this can go in the trash |
|
thymidine |
none listed |
this can go in the trash |
|
Trypan Blue Stain |
cancer suspect agent, teratogen |
Submit to EH&S for chemical waste disposal |
For more information about the contents of this page
contact : Mike Lonon
Last Updated : 10.29.02