I don't know what sort of environmental regulations you have in Sweden, but
I assume that they are at least as strict as they are here and you can't
pour it down the sink. We just put all such waste together in a container
(glass, plastic or metal), seal it and have it taken away by our hazardous
waste people.
Of the chemicals you mention, diisopropylcarbodiimide is probably the most
hazardous, because it can react with skin and other tissues and cause
dermatitis and (sometimes) allergic reactions. I don't know the best thing
to mix it with to neutralize it, except maybe something like ammonium
acetate (the acetate carboxyl should get activated and react with ammonia,
forming an amide bond). I would make a concentrated solution in
alcohol-water so as to be able to dissolve both the ammonium acetate and
the carbodiimide. Piperidine is the smelliest reagent and can be
neutralized with acetic acid, as can DMAP. Anisole has a strong odor, but
is not reactive or extremely toxic, as far as I know.
Probably the best first aid is to quickly soak up the spill with something
absorbent, such as special hazardous waste spill pads that are available,
kitty litter, or even paper towels. Get everything to a hood, if possible,
and seal the absorbent materials in a plastic bag. Keep the chemicals off
your skin and try not to breathe the vapors. In any case, don't panic.
It's not THAT toxic. Just get it picked up quickly.
Richard Laursen
-------------------------------
>I am going to work with peptide synthesis and
>will among others use the reagents
>diisopropylcarbodiimides, piperidine,
>dimethylaminopyridine and anisole.
>My question is, does anybody have any suggestions
>how to handle the chemical waste of these products,
>and is there any chemiclas that can be used if you
>spill any of these reagents.
>
>Best regards
>
>Maria Thyboll
>Maria Thyboll
>Department of Analytical Chemistry
>Royal Institute of Technology
>Teknikringen 36
>100 44 Stockholm
>SWEDEN
>Tel +46 8 7906410
>Fax + 46 8 108425
>Email k93_mtl@k.kth.se
Richard A. Laursen
Department of Chemistry
Boston University
590 Commonwealth Ave.
Boston, MA 02215
Tel (617) 353-2491; FAX (617) 353-6466
email: <laursen@bu.edu>