Home Chem Lab Cleanup

[marting]

My father, a retired bacteriologist for the dept of health, died 5 years ago leaving a home "lab" with a lot of glassware, books, centrifuge, autoclave, and such. Amongst this is an assortment of several hundred chemicals. These were scavanged from associates at Harvard when they would clean out their labs of older chems and refresh the stock. I think he accumulated these from about the late 50's to 60's. He moved to SC in the 80s and took them with him. He just kept them locked up in his "lab." My mother is now thinking of moving since their home is on 40 acres in a rural area of SC and she is getting too old to maintain it. She was afraid of even going in the shed(lab).

So I flew down and started going through and inventorying this amazing colllection. Most chems are staining dyes used in microbiology but he had collected some clearly toxic compounds containing mercury, lead, and chromium. Looks like each of these 3 baddies is in amounts from 10 to 20 lbs). About half the mercury is elemental in glass vials grouped in a container.

Where or who do I go to to dispose of this stuff safely? The local hazardous waste handlers specialize in medical waste and aren't able to help. I have some chem knowledge but I'm an EE so I haven't a clue.

[Madalch]

Call the closest university or college- specifically, the chemistry department. They'll probably take some of the stuff, and tell you how to arrange for disposal of the rest.

[marting]

Call the closest university or college- specifically, the chemistry department. They'll probably take some of the stuff, and tell you how to arrange for disposal of the rest.

Did that but the local colleges don't have any significant chemistry depts and weren't any help. I checked the EPA and they have recommended packaging for preparing Mercury for shipping but the only info on who to call is if it's spilled. Since nothing is spilled no help there.

[blutoski]

I would ask the municipality / city hall next. There could be a depot. The garbage collection dpt probably gets questions like this every day (batteries, paint, &c.)

I think your concern about heavy metal disposal is valid.

PS: I'd keep this private, if possible. If something goes wrong to a neighbour's well... it doesn't have to have anything to do with your dad for rumours to get started.

[blutoski]

PPS: I'm jealous, as there's nothing quite like vintage glassware.

I have a bunch of old round-bottom flasks that I use to serve novelty cocktails.

[ben m]

Did that but the local colleges don't have any significant chemistry depts and weren't any help. I checked the EPA and they have recommended packaging for preparing Mercury for shipping but the only info on who to call is if it's spilled. Since nothing is spilled no help there.

1) Everywhere I've ever lived, the local municipal waste haulers advertised their dropoff site for (e.g.) fluorescent lamps, batteries, used motor oil, and mercury thermometers. Call them; they may have a subcontractor or someone who can talk to you in more detail.

2) Go ahead and call that mercury-spill number at the EPA. The person who picks up the phone should at least know where to *direct* you to find disposal help.

3) Call the fire department. I think they have chemical-disposal/safety contact sheets for "burning solvent storage yard" cases.

[marting]

I talked to Waste Management's hazardous materials people here and they can deal with single specific substances in larger qtys but not smaller assorted things like an old lab. I get the distinct impression people do not ask them about that. Odd.

I think the State capital is next up. Hopefully the problem arises enough that I can get some guidance there.

[marting]

Good ideas guys. I'll check around tomorrow.

[Starthinker]

Spill some and call the DNR. I'll bet you get all kinds of help.

[Madalch]

Did that but the local colleges don't have any significant chemistry depts and weren't any help.

They must at least have someone who teaches chemistry there, don't they?? The college I work for has, at this campus, one chemistry instructor (who also teaches math) and one science lab coordinator, and we were still able to deal with a sizable collection of old stuff from the local hospital.

[Bikewer]

Your local fire department may be able to help as well. If they can't specifically identify the chemicals, they'll know someone who can.

[Ziggurat]

Spill some and call the DNR. I'll bet you get all kinds of help.

Yeah, but they might charge you. And I doubt that would be cheap.

[Soapy Sam]

Mix it all up and clean the drive with it.
Or put in 50cc bottles and sell it to coonasses as a condiment.
They have no tastebuds in Louisiana- they'll put Nitric Acid on crawfish.

[marting]

Mix it all up and clean the drive with it.
Or put in 50cc bottles and sell it to coonasses as a condiment.
They have no tastebuds in Louisiana- they'll put Nitric Acid on crawfish.

I love Cajun cookin. Too bad I don't have any HNO3. I didn't see anything druggies would want either. Just finished the inventory. The last were about a hundred misc. jars of around 10g of this or that dye. Now to search the hazmat database.

[Crazycowbob]

Wait wait! I've been wanting to start a home lab, how close are you to Lubbock? I'll take it aaaaaall off your hands for free :D

[Soapy Sam]

Don't. You KNOW he's gonna drink it.

[geni]

In the UK some of the large chemical disposal companies will do it. I don't know about california though and that aproach would be somewhat pricey.

[marting]

In the UK some of the large chemical disposal companies will do it. I don't know about california though and that aproach would be somewhat pricey.

I live in CA but the problem is in South Carolina where my parents retired. Funny thing is there's some sort of wood processing plant about 5 miles away and it absolutely stinks here when we are downwind.

I'm gradually going through the list and entering info such as the seemingly popular Health, Flamability, Reactability codes used by fire depts. Of course it has real meaning when they are on the side of 55 gallon drums.....

Still, these smaller qtys are problematic too. Especially in the case of mercury. Other than the Mercury and, to some degree the Chromium compounds, nothing so far seems too toxic, flammable, or reactive. At least that there's much of.

[sasquatchx]

Woooow! I'd kill to have a home lab! I'd have to be separated from it with a crowbar.

Insanely jealous here.

[quarky]

I had the same problem when my dad was getting old, i.e., 95.
He had an insane collection of chemicals and glassware; some quite valuable; many quite dangerous and toxic, including horrible solvents, 50Kg of mercury; a bunch of white phosphorus; bromine; gallon jars of nitric, sulfuric and hydrocloric acid, etc, etc.

No colleges or universities would take it. No professional labs would either. Most of the stuff was illegal to possess, though it wasn't when he got it in the 30's and 40's.

It was a nightmare, of sorts. I kept some of the sweet glass, distillation rigs, ceramic heaters and such, but even that was troublesome, because owning such stuff gives the appearance of clandestine chemistry.

While I was wondering what to do with it, an anomynous tip brought ten guys in hazmat suits to my dad's humble retirement community. I'm not sure how they dealt with the goodies. I'd like to have nice lab, but the drug paranoia in the U.S. makes it impossible.

Strange, I could have sold it for lots of $ to the black market, but I'm glad its gone.
The old boy even had some thorium!