[Histonet] recycling formalin

Fri Jan 13 15:29:49 CST 2012

There are lots of systems out there now. There are filtertion systems
that require very little on the part of the tech beyond changing the
filter. There are other systems a bit more complicated that require
adjusting the strength, and rebuffering(not that hard). In all cases the
systems pay for themselves within a year in terms of less procurement
and waste removal fees, not to mention the environment. When I check the
alcohol(methanol) content of formalin(37-40%) I usually get around
10-15%, but after recycling it seems to go way down, which for some
studies is a good thing. I would still consider recycling. You will save
time as well by not having to order, unpack, get rid of waste etc.
Perhaps you can get you safety people on board and they can pay for the
system. One out of 3 places I have worked, the safety person purchased
it for the lab. Good luck.

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Today's Topics:

   1. formalin managment--what about recycling? (Cheryl)
   2. Re: Formalin Neutralizing (Bob Richmond)
   3. Re: formalin managment--what about recycling? (Rene J Buesa)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:29:34 -0800 (PST)
From: Cheryl <tkngflght <@t> yahoo.com>
Subject: [Histonet] formalin managment--what about recycling?
To: "histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu"
<histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Message-ID:
<1326475774.70430.YahooMailNeo <@t> web39406.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Now I'm curious.  We all struggle with what is okay to go down the
drain vs. what we're willing to put down the drain (I don't like dumping
xylene substitues even when my water district says I can-- I like fish
that swim right-side up! )

Can someone comment on the recycling programs out there for formalin
and the costs vs. commercial waste haulers?  Is the end product worth
the effort?

Thanks!

Cheryl Kerry, HT(ASCP) , Histology Recruiter
Full Staff Inc. 
Staffing the AP Lab by helping one GREAT Tech at a time.  
281.852.9457 Office
800.756.3309 Phone & Fax 
admin <@t> fullstaff.org 

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------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:43:03 -0500
From: Bob Richmond <rsrichmond <@t> gmail.com>
Subject: [Histonet] Re: Formalin Neutralizing
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu 
Message-ID:
<CAOKsRH6MGahaQu4VOuNsZzZNq-QQBv2xkwC_C41P27uOptuAvg <@t> mail.gmail.com>
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Three years ago Tony Henwood in Australia posted a formula for
neutralizing formaldehyde with ammonia. He also alludes to using
sodium bisulfite (a.k.a. metabisulfite), but I don't know the
proportions or how the reaction works. - I've posted a copy of his
note, below.

A lot of commercial formaldehyde neutralizers are pure mumbo-jumbo. Of
course, this has become an issue where what managers and regulators
think is a great deal more important than what actually happens at the
chemical level where MBA's fear to tread.

Bob Richmond
Samurai Pathologist
Knoxville TN
*****************************************************
Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 09:45:43 +1100
From: "Tony Henwood" <AnthonyH <@t> chw.edu.au>
Subject: RE: [Histonet] FW: formalin neutralizers
To: "Burton, Lynn" <Lynn.Burton <@t> Illinois.gov>,
   <histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>

This is what we use:
Neutralization and Disposal of Formalin Fixative

10% Formalin can be neutralised with sodium bisulfite or concentrated
ammonia. The reaction with ammonia results in the formation of
hexamethylenetetramine (commonly known as hexamine or methenamine).
This can then be safely disposed of either as a liquid fertiliser or
via the sewage system (check with your local authority).

The reaction proceeds as follows:

6 CH2O + 4 NH3  ---> C6H12N4 (Hexamethylenetetramine) + 6 H2O

Procedure:

1.  Before beginning, personnel must have the following safety
equipment readily available in the event of an accidental spill:
sorbent material (spill pillows, bulk sorbent) formaldehyde rated
respirator.
2.  Personnel must wear a lab coat or apron, safety goggles and
neoprene gloves.
3.  A pH meter or pH paper
4.  To 1000 ml of 10% formalin (= 4% formaldehyde) add 56 ml of strong
ammonia solution (27%). This will generate 31 g of hexamine
(approximately a 3% solution).
5.  Stir well.  Reaction may produce heat.
6.  Initially, the pH of the formaldehyde solution will be about 6.
As ammonia is added and stirred, a fluffy white precipitate will
result.  Addition of sufficient ammonia will raise the pH to about 8.
Because the neutralization of the formaldehyde requires less molecules
of ammonia than the apparent acid-base reaction supplies hydronium
ions, the pH change from acid to base is used as an indicator that an
excess of ammonia has been added.
7.  Let set overnight (12 hours).
8.  The smell of formalin is greatly reduced or replaced by a faint
whiff of ammonia.
9.  Schiff's reagent is perhaps the best, most sensitive and available
reagent in any lab to test for the presence of aldehydes. If the
"neutralized" formalin turns purplish with the addition of Schiff's
reagent, it is not totally neutralized and you will need to add more
ammonia.
10. Dispose of appropriately.

I am not sure how the bisulphite method works. I picked it up from a
reference on formalin neutralisation but have never tried it.

And would you believe that after some searching I can't even find that
reference (I probably have it on my home computer).

The notes come from my "Infamous" text book I have been writing for
the last 20 years. As my staff call it, the book that will probably
never be
published. But then the chapters are quite usefull for teaching so
they are of some use.

Tony Henwood JP, MSc, BAppSc, GradDipSysAnalys, CT(ASC)
Laboratory Manager & Senior Scientist
Tel: 612 9845 3306
Fax: 612 9845 3318
the children's hospital at westmead
Cnr Hawkesbury Road and Hainsworth Street, Westmead
Locked Bag 4001, Westmead NSW 2145, AUSTRALIA

------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:56:10 -0800 (PST)
From: Rene J Buesa <rjbuesa <@t> yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Histonet] formalin managment--what about recycling?
To: "histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu"
<histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>,Cheryl <tkngflght <@t> yahoo.com>
Message-ID:
<1326477370.65818.YahooMailClassic <@t> web65709.mail.ac4.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

I am absolutely opposed to formalin recycling because the least you are
exposed to formalin, the better.
When you buy specimen containers prefilled with formalin, your exposure
is minimal.
If after that you start collecting the used formalin into larger
containers and recycle it your exposure increases ddramatically.
The worst case scenario is recycling by distillation when, after the
formalin is recycled, you have to check the pH and add the salts to
neutralize it.
Any recycling method used involves that you will have to keep dealing
with it while filling the specimen containers.
If there was a "stingy" histology manager that was me, BUT I never
traded a few dollars savings for my staff safety.
There is no savings that can compensate for the dangerous exposure to
formalin.
Use it the least, in the least amounts possible (2:1 is enough), in
very well ventilated areas and pay somebody to take it away.
That is how I feel about it.
René J.

--- On Fri, 1/13/12, Cheryl <tkngflght <@t> yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Cheryl <tkngflght <@t> yahoo.com>
Subject: [Histonet] formalin managment--what about recycling?
To: "histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu"
<histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Date: Friday, January 13, 2012, 12:29 PM

Now I'm curious.  We all struggle with what is okay to go down the
drain vs. what we're willing to put down the drain (I don't like dumping
xylene substitues even when my water district says I can-- I like fish
that swim right-side up! )

Can someone comment on the recycling programs out there for formalin
and the costs vs. commercial waste haulers?  Is the end product worth
the effort?

Thanks!

Cheryl Kerry, HT(ASCP) , Histology Recruiter
Full Staff Inc. 
Staffing the AP Lab by helping one GREAT Tech at a time.  
281.852.9457 Office
800.756.3309 Phone & Fax 
admin <@t> fullstaff.org 

Sign up for the FREE newsletter AP News--updates, tricks of the trade
and current issues for Anatomic Pathology Clinical Labs. Send a
'subscribe' request to APNews <@t> fullstaff.org. Please include your name
and specialty in the body of the email.
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End of Histonet Digest, Vol 98, Issue 19
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