[Histonet] Disposal of MMA & BPO Waste

[Pamela Marcum]

I was at UPENN Vet School at the time I used this method.  We sometimes had 4 to 6 bottles under the hood to polymerize.  We would use Nalgene 1 liter bottles about 2/3s full and allow them to polymerize under the hood.  We always sat the bottles in large Tri-Pour disposable beakers in case the bottle crack or overflowed during polymerization and then through them out in the normal waste.  If we had straight MMA we added some BPO to allow it to polymerize completely.  Larger amounts would be far more difficult to control the reaction in and contain it.  



Pam Marcum 

UAMS 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brad Herschler " <bhersch2@ illinois . edu > 
To: histonet @lists. utsouthwestern . edu 
Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2010 8:50:15 PM 
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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