Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:55:01 -0400
Reply-To: "Dr. Jay A. Young" <chemsafety**At_Symbol_Here**VERIZON.NET>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: "Dr. Jay A. Young" <chemsafety**At_Symbol_Here**VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Re: Disposal of butyl lithium
Comments: To: "Dona Lee Wong, Ph.D."

Dona,

For problems like these, one uses what is called the "Jesuit" solution.

For example one in no sense chooses to destroy the left over butyl lithium; 
instead one decides to synthesize the compound X and it just happens that 
one of the best ways to make X involves the consumption of that butyl 
lithium.

So, following the procedures required by the local Chemical Hygiene Plan, 
one devises a series of written steps that describe the procedures by which 
one intends to make compound X.

Et cetera.

Jay Young
**************************

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dona Lee Wong, Ph.D." 
To: 
Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 10:29 AM
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Disposal of butyl lithium

> Responses from users in MA and other states not permitting treatment of 
> hazardous chemicals to inactivate prior to disposal of particular interest
>
> One of our chemistry labs has butyl lithium that they no longer use and 
> are trying to safely dispose of.  Massachusetts state law does not permit 
> any treatment of hazardous chemicals to inactivate prior to "safe 
> disposal".  Our normal process is to transfer any hazardous chemicals to 
> an isolated and dedicated room.  We have a contract with a local company, 
> skilled in hazardous materials, and trained personnel from that company 
> then remove the chemical waste.  The PI feels that moving the butyl 
> lithium to the waste facility would be more, rather than less, dangerous 
> and has requested that we have the butyl lithium removed directly from 
> their laboratory.  The latter, of course, is expensive and the hazardous 
> waste company suggests that if the butyl lithium is still stored as 
> received and should be stored in water-free hexane, then it can be brought 
> down to the holding facility.
>
> Any experience or recommendations?
>
> Thanks,
>
> dona wong
>
> -- 
>
> Dona Lee Wong, Ph.D.
> Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry
> Harvard Medical School
> Director, Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Neurobiology
> McLean Hospital
> 115 Mill Street, MRC #116
> Belmont, MA 02478
> Tel:  617-855-2042
> FAX:  617-855-2058
> e-mail:  dona_wong**At_Symbol_Here**hms.harvard.edu
> 

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