The waste from a synthesizer is probably the most difficult
hazardous waste generated on this campus. Ours contains not only the
carbodiimides, but CH2Cl2 and N-methylpyrrolidone (ABI 431A). In the US,
halogenated wastes must be handled separate from non-halogenated materials.
All commercial paint removers in the US are based on either CH2Cl2
or N-methylpyrrolidone. We once had a bucket of this waste tear or
overflow; not clear which. In any case, it dissolved the floor tiles and
spread "liquid poison oak" all over the floor (I believe you don't have the
plant poison oak in Europe- it causes terrible skin irritation).
You need to get together with your hazardous materials people and
alert them to the MULTIPLE hazards associated with the synthesizer waste!
David
David A. Schooley
Dept. of Biochemistry/330
Univ. of Nevada
Reno, NV 89557
schooley@med.unr.edu
tel: (702) 784-4136; fax (702) 784-1419