217-333-2755
drs@illinois.edu
News and Announcements
Dispose of "Legacy" Chemicals
During recent laboratory audits, we have encountered “legacy” chemicals in a number of laboratories. These are chemicals left sitting in the back of cabinets for many years, unnoticed and unused, sometimes stored together with incompatible chemicals. Many are inherited from previous occupants. In addition to taking up valuable space, some of these chemicals can become dangerous as they age. Legacy chemicals left unchecked can introduce higher hazards to the laboratory than the original chemical. Small leaks that go unnoticed could cause violent reactions and generate toxic fumes.
Below is a short list of chemicals that pose serious hazards when stored for an extended period of time:
- Picric Acid (solid): Pure picric acid is a shock-sensitive explosive. For that reason it is shipped wet, and it should be checked for its water content quarterly. Do NOT open a bottle that appears to be dry or that has not been checked for a long time.
- Perchloric acid: Whereas 70% perchloric acid is stable, many of its salts (perchlorates) are shock-sensitive explosives. Old perchloric acid bottles may have formed crystals that are explosive.
- Hydrofluoric acid: Hydrofluoric acid (HF) is stored in plastic bottles. The plastic material deteriorates with time and becomes brittle. There have been cases where bottles broke as they were picked up. HF is highly toxic - a minor exposure can have serious consequences.
- Diethyl ether (or short ethyl ether): Diethyl ether forms explosive peroxides over time. Bottles should be dated when received and checked for peroxide regularly. Old bottles that have not been checked may contain significant amounts of peroxides. Other commonly found peroxide formers are isopropanol, isoamyl alcohol, tetrahydrofuran, and dioxane.
- Hydrazine and other corrosives can cause corrosion of the container lid causing a leak that allows toxic vapors to escape.
Other chemicals may not become more hazardous as they age, but they degrade rendering them useless.
We strongly encourage all laboratory groups to inventory the chemicals in your spaces and dispose of old chemicals and any chemicals not in use. There is no charge for disposal – for details on requesting a chemical waste pick-up, see our Chemical Waste Quick Start Guide. If you have any disposal questions, contact the Division of Research Safety at DRS-Waste@illinois.edu.
DRS safety references: