[Histonet] Disposal of MMA & BPO Waste

[Jack Ratliff]

The simple thing to do is just polymerize the waste. I am not sure of the volume of waste that you mention in your message, but I routinely polymerize my MMA waste and then safely discard for glass disposal.

 

1)  I fill a 2 - 2.5 L glass amber bottle (usually bottle that MMA comes in originally) with approximately 1.5 L of MMA waste

 

2)  add 10-15 g of a benzoyl peroxide based catalyst (Perkadox 16)

 

3)  cap and mix throughly (shaking or swirling) until catalyst is dissolved into solution

 

4)  place the glass container in the hood on a disposable piece of lab bench paper (keep a clean air space free around container)

 

5)  UN CAP BOTTLE (very important step here as polymerization can be explosive due to the exothermic reation of the solution)

 

6)  allow to sit freely for 2-3 days until solution is completely polymerized

 

7)  after polymerization, turn bottle on side and allow to vent for 1-2 days (may or may not be a necessary step)

 

8)  cap bottle and discard with broken glass

 

Hope this helps and please ask more questions if you need further clarification or explanation.

 

Jack

 

 
> From: bhersch2 <@t> illinois.edu
> Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2010 20:50:15 -0500
> To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Subject: [Histonet] Disposal of MMA & BPO Waste
> 
> We use an MMA embedding technique similar to that used for histology in our
> lab. We sent a request to our campus Chemical Waste Management for the MMA
> waste mixture to be disposed of, but they are refusing because they say the
> mixture is too hazardous. The mixture contains 1gram of benzoyl peroxide
> (BPO) per 100mL of MMA. Chemical Waste Management informed us that MMA in
> the presence of BPO is highly reactive.
> 
> We would like to know: for histology, how is MMA + BPO waste normally
> disposed of?
> 
> Thanks
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