Hello Patricia,

Apologies. I received a message that my previous email could not be delivered because I included an attachment.

Again, I strongly suggest neutralizing with sodium bicarbonate, and then storing. This is common practice for acidic/basic wastes. Additionally, leaving a waste container open/vented is against OSHA policy, as waste should always be neutralized and stored properly. If the waste contains any flammable substances, it must be stored with flammable waste. If the volumes produced are small enough, you can probably separate the organic from the aqueous layer (post-neutralization) and store the flammable organic waste accordingly. It would probably be prudent to neutralize the waste after each experiment instead of collecting and waiting to neutralize in bulk.

Here is the link to a very helpful document that you can modify for your specific procedure and needs, including waste tracking. The document also contains links to specific references for neutralization and handling of nitric acid wastes.

Bench top Treatment Neutralization Procedure for Nitric Acid

As long as you remain calm, PPE up, and work in the hood with secondary containment in case of spill, you should be fine. Panic and stress yields accidents.

Best,

Greglynn

Greglynn Gibbs
Research Technologist & Lab Manager - Chemistry

Penn State Berks
106A Luerssen Building
Tulpehocken Road, P.O. Box 7009
Reading, PA 19610
Office: (610) 396-6363

http://www.bk.psu.edu

---

From: Gibbs, Greglynn Dainelle <gdw104**At_Symbol_Here**psu.edu>
Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2021 1:00 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] [External] [DCHAS-L] Nitric Acid Disposal

Hello Patricia,

Again, I strongly suggest neutralizing with sodium bicarbonate, and then storing. This is common practice for acidic/basic wastes. Additionally, leaving a waste container open/vented is against OSHA policy, as waste should always be neutralized and stored properly. If the waste contains any flammable substances, it must be stored with flammable waste. If the volumes produced are small enough, you can probably separate the organic from the aqueous layer (post-neutralization) and store the flammable organic waste accordingly. It would probably be prudent to neutralize the waste after each experiment instead of collecting and waiting to neutralize in bulk.

I have attached a document that you can modify for your specific procedure and needs, including waste tracking. The document also contains links to specific references for neutralization and handling of nitric acid wastes.

As long as you remain calm, PPE up, and work in the hood with secondary containment in case of spill, you should be fine. Panic and stress yields accidents.

Best,

Greglynn

Greglynn Gibbs
Research Technologist & Lab Manager - Chemistry

Penn State Berks
106A Luerssen Building
Tulpehocken Road, P.O. Box 7009
Reading, PA 19610
Office: (610) 396-6363

http://www.bk.psu.edu

---

From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU> on behalf of Samuella Sigmann <sigmannsb**At_Symbol_Here**APPSTATE.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2021 9:58 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] [External] [DCHAS-L] Nitric Acid Disposal

I would suggest a vented cap on the waste bottle.
S-

On 7/15/2021 9:33 AM, Patricia Leach wrote:

Hello,

I had a question from one of the organic chemists here about how to store the waste from a nitration using nitric acid in a dichloromentane/acetic acid solvent. He says there are several examples of this nitration in the literature, but I am still wary. While the reaction is open to the atmosphere, I am worried about storing it until it can be disposed of. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Patricia Leach

Environmental Health and Safety Coordinator

Campus Operations and Safety

P: 903.468.3278 C: 316.644.8255

Mail: P.O. Box 3011, Commerce, TX 75429

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******************************************************************************

Non-Tenure Track Faculty - Qualified to cook the meals and wash the dishes, but not eat at the table.

Samuella B. Sigmann, MS, NRCC-CHO

Fellow & 2019 Chair, ACS Division of Chemical Health & Safety

Senior Lecturer/Safety Committee Chair/Director of Stockroom

Chemistry

Appalachian State University

525 Rivers Street

Boone, NC 28608

Phone: 828 262 2755

Email: sigmannsb**At_Symbol_Here**appstate.edu

--- For more information about the DCHAS-L e-mail list, contact the Divisional membership chair at membership**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org Follow us on Twitter **At_Symbol_Here**acsdchas

--- For more information about the DCHAS-L e-mail list, contact the Divisional membership chair at membership**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org Follow us on Twitter **At_Symbol_Here**acsdchas