Help - mixed chemicals

A general discussion and Q & A forum.
Post Reply
Ilona
Posts: 12
Joined: 14 Oct 2011, 11:45
Job Title: Lab Assistant
School: Glenmore Park High
Suburb: Glenmore Park
State/Location: NSW

Help - mixed chemicals

Post by Ilona »

Yay! first day back and the little darlings are already mixing stuff up :-(
Ive been given back a batch of chems mixed up - possible Cuso4 mixed with universal indicator plus hcl. + mg maybe.
How do I dispose of this. When I get chemicals back like this usually I mark it unknown and get rid of it at the end of the year by chemical disposer.
Any other ideas please?

Oh by the way welcome back :-)
Ilona -Glemore Park High
User avatar
Labbie
Posts: 3234
Joined: 28 Nov 2006, 10:00
Job Title: Retired
Suburb: At Home
State/Location: NSW

Re: Help - mixed chemicals

Post by Labbie »

You could try Evaporating basin, and see how that goes?
Regards Labbie

Lab Manager/Lab Tech, mind reading etc etc
Now retired :wub:
Merilyn1
Posts: 1476
Joined: 12 Mar 2013, 08:10
Job Title: Labbie
School: Wollondilly Anglican College
Suburb: Tahmoor
State/Location: NSW

Re: Help - mixed chemicals

Post by Merilyn1 »

Into a waste bottle, labelled with what it possibly contains. There are too many unknowns to save this.
And make sure you let the teacher know you are not happy with this. The class should be banned from doing any pracs until the culprits apologise!
User avatar
AnnNos
Posts: 190
Joined: 17 Nov 2011, 07:32
Job Title: Science Assistant
State/Location: NSW

Re: Help - mixed chemicals

Post by AnnNos »

Use sodium carbonate to precipitate out the Cu and Mg, decant the solution and bring to neutral and pour down the sink. Then wrap up the solids and dispose of in the rubbish.
Merilyn1
Posts: 1476
Joined: 12 Mar 2013, 08:10
Job Title: Labbie
School: Wollondilly Anglican College
Suburb: Tahmoor
State/Location: NSW

Re: Help - mixed chemicals

Post by Merilyn1 »

Just check that it is okay to tip down the sink - we're on a septic system and cannot put anything like this down the sink. Has to be held for collection.
mtg
Posts: 510
Joined: 15 Aug 2011, 10:48
Job Title: Lab Tech
School: NDSC
Suburb: west gippsland
State/Location: VIC

Re: Help - mixed chemicals

Post by mtg »

I usually collect this sort waste as CuSO4 cant go down the sink. I put it all in a container, evaporate it in the fume hood, when it's not in use, then it gets collected in chem waste. I don't put much into the rubbish as it will leech out into the environment. Note:- the container must comply with your waste disposal company.
Post Reply