2.16
DELIVERING LABORATORY WASTE WATER FOR TREATMENT
In laboratory processing, diluted aqueous solutions that must not be disposed of with the sewage water accumulate again and again. Concentrations of the contained substances are frequently below 5%. In order to avoid that these solutions are taken to waste disposal plants and burnt there, these solutions can be taken to the Department of Environmental Protection for treatment.
The department is equipped with an UV reactor in which numerous organic substances in aqueous solution can be oxidized completely. As a standard, the following solutions are treated in this way:
Ethidiumbromid, EDTA, benzidine and its salts.
After preliminary tests have been successfully completed, treatment of laboratory waste water containing the following substances is also possible:
Picric acid, nitro aniline, nitrobenzoic acid, formaldehyde-containing solutions, washing waters containing methylene chloride and chloroform, colorant solutions (e.g. auramine, methylene blue).
In the corresponding literature, the ”Advanced Oxidation Process, AOP” is described for numerous other organic substances. If necessary, preliminary tests have to determine whether the substance in question can be degraded.
The contents of oxidizable substances should be below 5%, otherwise processing is not economical.
Aqueous azide solutions are degraded by means of direct irradiation.
In all buildings that are not connected to a neutralization plant, aqueous mineral acids and bases are to be collected separately. These acids and bases have either to be disposed of as hazardous waste or be delivered for neutralization. If these containers do not include substances that are hazardous to water, these solutions can be neutralized in our laboratories and disposed of in the sewerage system.
If within your field of responsibility, such or similar solutions have to be disposed of at regular intervals, please contact the Department of Environmental Protection. If necessary, preliminary tests have to be carried out.
When delivering laboratory waste water for treatment, the following label has to be used to mark the container:
For the registration of laboratory waste water for treatment, use the Declaration for the disposal of dangerous wastes. Pickup of dangerous wastes takes place every second and fourth Tuesday of the month.