[Histonet] Formalin Neutralizer

[Rene J Buesa]

The topic of formalin neutralization comes up regularly in HistoNet and there are always those who post answers telling about good results obtained and the advantage of eliminating the cost of removal by some local company dedicated to chemical contaminants removal.
Perhaps I have been unlucky but I have tried Transform121; Vytak; Formalex; Aldez-AMS 410 and 1% aq. potassium permanganate with very poor results as tested with Schiff's reagent of the "neutralized" product. Always the neutralized NBF had a strong smell of formalin, as Mark describes.
On an answer to HistoNet on March 24, 2009 our colleague Tony Henwwod advised all of us that 10% neutral formalin can be neutralized with sodium bisulfite or with concentrated ammonia (27%) used at a ratio of 56mL every 1 000 mL of 10% NBF. The ammonia is added stirring and is an exothermic chemical reaction.
I have not tested the procedure but I completely sure of Tony's advise.
After my failures with commercial neutralizers I decided to keep using the services of the chemical disposal company, expensive as they were, because I could reconcile myself with the idea of dumping incompletely "neutralized" NBF into the sewer and that is what I recommend anybody who, after "neutralizing" the NBF, still smells it!
René J. 

From: Mark Tarango <marktarango <@t> gmail.com>
To: Cristi Rigazio <cls71877 <@t> gmail.com> 
Cc: "histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu" <histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>; Lin Bustamante <lbustamante <@t> cvm.tamu.edu> 
Sent: Friday, April 12, 2013 6:22 PM
Subject: Re: [Histonet] Formalin Neutralizer


Our safety person claims no test for formalin is accurate after the
addition of sodium sulfite.  I had suggested some kind of testing after I
was surprised by the strength of the fumes when someone was pouring the
treated formalin waste down the drain.  I wish I knew more about it.




On Thu, Apr 11, 2013 at 6:26 PM, Cristi Rigazio <cls71877 <@t> gmail.com> wrote:

> We have a formaldehyde test kit.  It's a dip stick type test.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Apr 11, 2013, at 5:31 PM, Mark Tarango <marktarango <@t> gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Can I ask how you test before dumping?
>
> Thanks
>
> Mark
> On Apr 11, 2013 6:21 AM, "Cristi Rigazio" <cls71877 <@t> gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> We neutralize ours and have no problems with it.  I am not sure how much
>> you use, so I will say it is easiest in smaller batches as you do have to
>> shake it up to make sure it dissolves.  We purchase ours from BBC
>> Biochemical for a very reasonable price and then test before dumping.  We
>> have doing this for four years with no issues.
>> Thanks,
>> Cristi
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Apr 11, 2013, at 6:04 AM, "Bustamante, Lin" <LBUSTAMANTE <@t> cvm.tamu.edu>
>> wrote:
>>
>> > We are looking into the option of neutralizing our formalin waste
>> instead of having it to be picked up.
>> > If you use Formalin Neutralizer, do you have any  pro/con about this
>> product?
>> > Thank you very much.
>> >
>> > Lin S. Bustamante, B.S., H.T.(ASCP)
>> > VIBS Histology Laboratory Supervisor
>> > College Of Veterinary Medicine
>> > Texas A&M University
>> > College Station, Texas 77843-4458
>> > Phone: (979) 845-3177
>> > Fax: (979) 458-3499
>> >
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>>
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