disposal of contaminated solids

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RosalieM
Posts: 1795
Joined: 20 Mar 2007, 10:00
Job Title: Lab Assistant
Suburb: Tamworth
State/Location: NSW

disposal of contaminated solids

Post by RosalieM »

Hi Everyone! Just wondering what you all do with solid chemicals that have been mixed up. My little bottles of chemicals for flame tests are all messed up with who knows what in them. I don't know how it is so hard to rinse the loop before each dip (since that is part of the process anyway - wet the loop!) but obviously it is too hard for some... so I am starting afresh (using ideas found here!) but I don't know what I should do with all the contaminated ones.
Rosalie
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JudyM
Posts: 135
Joined: 01 Jun 2006, 10:00
State/Location: NSW

Re: disposal of contaminated solids

Post by JudyM »

Do you have a container in the lab for heavy metal waste?
I would put it in there.
btw I was at the uni recently and they were doing flame tests for Science in the Bush.
They had the metals (aqueous solns) in small beakers with a paddle pop stick soaking in each.
I was impressed with that idea and am thinking about ditching the spray bottles we currently use.
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nickyw
Posts: 350
Joined: 21 Aug 2006, 10:00
State/Location: QLD

Re: disposal of contaminated solids

Post by nickyw »

Yeah I introduced the paddle pop flame test version this year and the students and teachers love it. So much easier to use.

We are converted. :clap3: :clap3:
RosalieM
Posts: 1795
Joined: 20 Mar 2007, 10:00
Job Title: Lab Assistant
Suburb: Tamworth
State/Location: NSW

Re: disposal of contaminated solids

Post by RosalieM »

I trialled the paddlepop idea which I am planning to go with from now on. That's why I'm quite happy to be getting rid of these samples. Thanks JudyM - didn't consider the heavy metals container! It collects the liquids but of course I can throw the solids in there too! I'm suffering from end of year brain shut-down I think...
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sunray18
Posts: 1488
Joined: 14 Feb 2008, 12:30
State/Location: NSW

Re: disposal of contaminated solids

Post by sunray18 »

with the paddle pop stick method, make sure you soak the stick in distilled water first, so it doesnt ignite.
we use toothpicks for this prac.
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pkij
Posts: 119
Joined: 10 Aug 2006, 10:00
Job Title: Lab Tech
School: Good Shepherd Catholic College
Suburb: Mount Isa
State/Location: QLD

Re: disposal of contaminated solids

Post by pkij »

I tried to paddle pop sticks this year but did not work that well. What concentration of solutions do people use? I used 0.1M chlorides but the teachers said that they did not show the colours very well.
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Wayne
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Joined: 17 May 2006, 10:00
School: Mount Carmel College
Suburb: Sandy Bay
State/Location: TAS

Re: disposal of contaminated solids

Post by Wayne »

I've been using the paddle pop method for years and love it! I soak the sticks over night in water and the students then dip it into the sample container that has about 0.5g of the solid metal chloride. Get great results.
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nickyw
Posts: 350
Joined: 21 Aug 2006, 10:00
State/Location: QLD

Re: disposal of contaminated solids

Post by nickyw »

I have saturated solutions made up and when a prac is required I pour about 20 mls into small labelled beakers . I then top up my sat solutions with water ready for the next prac. This has lasted me all year. No complaints just praise which is nice.
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dime
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Joined: 13 Jun 2007, 09:55
State/Location: NSW

Re: disposal of contaminated solids

Post by dime »

We have changed from paddlepop sticks which the little darlings would proceed to burn, to using unfolded paper clips. Just wet them and dip in the crystals. Work well.
RosalieM
Posts: 1795
Joined: 20 Mar 2007, 10:00
Job Title: Lab Assistant
Suburb: Tamworth
State/Location: NSW

Re: disposal of contaminated solids

Post by RosalieM »

Dime - that is essentially what we used to do but with wire loops. It took no time for them to contaminate the little bottles. Even when we tried the paper clips ("New paper clip each time") they still managed to mix them up!
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Wayne
Posts: 315
Joined: 17 May 2006, 10:00
School: Mount Carmel College
Suburb: Sandy Bay
State/Location: TAS

Re: disposal of contaminated solids

Post by Wayne »

dime wrote:We have changed from paddlepop sticks which the little darlings would proceed to burn, to using unfolded paper clips. Just wet them and dip in the crystals. Work well.
I'm quite lucky, my girls don't leave them in long enough to burn. I can count the number of burnt ones on one hand over the course of 5-6 years that we have been doing it this way.
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