Proper Storage of Chemicals in
Laboratories
Dr. Ideisan I. Abu-Abdoun
Department of Chemistry – UOS
[email protected]
UOS –
28 - Feb. 2013
Contents
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Introduction
Requirements
Storage Facilities and Practices
Compressed Gases
Labels
Containers
Recommendations
Introduction
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Regulations = worker safety + Organize
practice in laboratories.
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
How to store chemicals, solvents, …. ???
MUST know the general safe laboratory
practice, (Training ?)
Proper storage, why???
 Control
physical hazards .
 Protect flammables from ignition.
 Minimize the potential of exposure to
poisons.
 Segregate incompatible compounds
to prevent their possible accidental
mixing.
Good Practices
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All chemicals should be dated when
they arrive at the laboratory or
stockroom.
 Storage of like classes of compounds
together.
 Consider Color coding of containers
for various storage classes.
Ranking Chemical Storage
From Most Hazardous to Least Hazardous
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Flammables
Volatile Poisons
Oxidizing Acids
Organic and Mineral Acids
Liquid Bases
Liquid Oxidizers
Non-Volatile Poisons
Metal Hydrides
Dry Solids
1: Flammable Liquids
For liquids with flashpoints < 100°F.
 Examples: alcohols, acetone, acetaldehyde,
acetonitrile, benzene, ether, hexane, methyl
butane, pyridine, tetrahydrofuran, toluene,
triethylamine.
 Storage Concern: Protect from ignition.
 Storage Facilities: Store in a flammable cabinet, or
in a flammable-storage refrigerator/freezer.
 Compatible Storage : may be with either Volatile
Poisons, or with Liquid Bases, but not with both.
Limit
the quantity to be stored, and use proper storage equipment
2: Volatile Poisons
Poisons, toxics, suspected carcinogens , strong odor .
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Examples: carbon tetrachloride, chloroform,
dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfate, formaldehyde,
halothane, methylene chloride, and phenol.
Storage Concern: Prevent volatile poison inhalation
exposures.
 Storage Facilities/Methods: Store in a flammable cabinet;
Store containers of less than one liter in a refrigerator.
 Compatible Storage: Volatile poisons may be stored with
flammables if bases are not present.
3: Oxidizing Acids
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Highly reactive with most substances and each other.
 Examples: nitric, sulfuric, perchloric, phosphoric, and
chromic acids.
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Storage Concern: Prevent contact and reaction between
oxidizing acids and other substances, corrosive.
 Storage Facilities/Methods: Store in a safety cabinet.
 Each oxidizing acid must be double-contained .
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Storage: should be segregated in their own compartment in a
safety cabinet. May be Stored with organic and Mineral Acids.
4: Organic and Mineral Acids
Examples: acetic, butyric, formic, glacial
acetic, hydrochloric, and trifluoroacetic
acids.
 Storage Concern: Prevent contact and
reaction with bases and oxidizing acids.
 Storage Facilities/Methods: Store in a
safety cabinet.
 Storage Groups: oxidizing acids can be
stored in the same compartment with
organic acids.
5: Liquid Bases
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Examples: Sodium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide,
calcium hydroxide.
Storage Concern: Prevent contact and reaction with
acids.
Storage Facilities: In a safety cabinet; or In trays in
normal cabinet.
Storage Groups: Liquid bases may be stored with
flammables in the flammable cabinet.
6: Liquid Oxidizers
React with everything, potentially causing explosions
or corrosion of surfaces.
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Examples: Ammonium persulfate, hydrogen peroxide (if
greater than or equal to 30%).
 Storage Concern: Isolate liquid oxidizers from other
substances.
 Storage Facilities: Total quantities exceeding three liters must
be kept in a cabinet with no other chemicals.
 Smaller quantities in a refrigerator.
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Compatible Storage: No compatible storage groups; store
liquid oxidizers separately from other chemicals.
7: Non-Volatile Liquid Poisons
(carcinogens, suspected carcinogens, and mutagens)
Highly toxic and toxic chemicals
Examples: acrylamide solutions, diisopropyl fluorophosphate, uncured
epoxy resins, and triethanolamine.
Storage Concern: Prevent contact and reaction between non-volatile liquid
poisons and other substances.
Storage Facilities: Store in a cabinet or refrigerator
Do not store on open shelves in the lab or cold room
Storage Group: Store with non-hazardous liquids (e.g., buffer solutions).
Exceptions: Anhydrides (e.g., acetic and trichloroacetic), they are highly
reactive with other acids.
8: Metal Hydrides
Most metal hydrides react violently with water, some
ignite spontaneously in air.
 Examples : sodium borohydride, calcium hydride,
and lithium aluminum hydride.
 Storage Concern: Prevent contact and reaction
with liquids and, in some cases, air.
 Storage Facilities: Store using secure, waterproof
double-containment. Isolate from other storage
groups.
 Compatible Storage Groups: Dry Solids, If
securely double-contained .
9: Dry Solids
All powders, hazardous and non hazardous.
 Examples: benzidine, oxalic acid, potassium
cyanide, and sodium cyanide.
 Storage Concern: Prevent contact and potential
reaction with liquids.
 Storage Facilities: Cabinets are recommended, but if
not available, open shelves are acceptable. Store
above liquids.
 Compatible Storage Groups: may be stored in the
same area as dry solids.
Group 9: …..
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Exceptions: Solid picric or picric sulfonic
acid can be stored with this group, but
should be checked regularly for dryness.
When completely dry, picric acid is
explosive and may detonate upon shock
or friction.
If you have Picric acid MUST see detailed
chemical safety information on picric acid.
Hazardous substances
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Substances that form explosive peroxides
on prolonged contact with air.
(peroxidizables materials must be kept in a
flammables cabinet)
isopropyl ether
divinyl acetylene
vinylidene chloride These materials should be
distinguished by placing a
potassium metal
red band or dot on the label.
sodium amide
Health Hazards
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Substances that pose a health hazard through
either immediate or long-term toxicity.
Short-term toxicity sodium cyanide and
ammonium molybdate
long-term toxicity: aniline derivatives, chlorinated
hydrocarbons, and thiocyanates. (These are examples;
must others Check the MSDS )
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Storage: together, away from materials of other
classes.
Labels should be marked with a blue dot or band.
Nonhazardous materials
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known to have no health risks.
 Examples: simple salts such as
calcium chloride, buffer solutions,
indicators, copper metal, and so on.
 The materials can be kept in a
general chemical storage area.
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Their labels should bear green or gray dots or bands.
Discarded after six months
diethyl ether
tetrahydrofuran
dioxane
diacetylene
methyl acetylene
cumene
methyl isobutyl ketone
ethylene glycol dimethyl ether
(glyme)
tetralin
cyclohexene, cyclopentene
methylcycloalkanes
These
materials are distinguished by a red band or dot
on the label
Compressed Gases.
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Storage of compressed gases in the laboratory requires
precautions
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Must be fastened to a laboratory bench or other stable.
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Must have either the appropriate type of pressure
regulator or the protective cap screwed in place at all
times.
 Must be located away from sources of significant heat,
such as radiators.
Chemical Storage Recommendations
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Segregation of chemicals by class within appropriate
cabinets.
One may not merely arrange substances on a shelf
alphabetically without regard to their chemical
characteristics.
Solvents must have their own special fire-resistant
cabinets; oxidants are stored away from reductants;
acids are stored away from bases;
peroxidizables are monitored and discarded at regular
intervals.
Storage areas equipment
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Storage areas must be equipped with fire
extinguishers, eyewash fountains, and materials
for cleaning up spills. (adsorbent and inert)
Fume hoods normally should not be used for
storage of chemicals.
Hoods being used for storage may not be used for
experimentation, and should be labeled clearly as
storage hoods.
Do not store stock supplies of chemicals on bench
tops, they are unprotected from ignition sources
and are more easily knocked over.
Labels.
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Labels on commercially available chemicals must
conform with safety rules, appearance of the name
of the substance, information on the toxicity and
other hazards associated with the substance.
 Additional Information. add to all labels the date on
which the material was acquired and the storage
location.
 Storage location should indicate storage room, the
cabinet or set of shelves, and the individual shelf.
 Example: W12-231-C-5, meaning building W12, room
231, cabinet C, shelf 5.
Label Materials……
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If the original label has disintegrated or otherwise been lost,
you should make a new one, containing as much of the
necessary information as possible. Use good quality paper
or polyethylene labels and India ink.
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Labels, both your own and the manufacturers', should be
protected against spills and fading.
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All chemicals, whether commercial materials or samples
prepared in the laboratory, must be labeled.
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Do not store chemicals in alphabetical order except within a
storage group
Must
be labeled
Correct
safety sign ??!
Use suitable containers
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Except for flammable solvents, which should be
transferred to safety cans if proper cabinets are
unavailable, the containers, usually of glass, in which
chemicals are received from the supply house are
appropriate for storage for reasonable periods of time.
 Materials received in sealed glass ampoules should be
used completely or the excess should be disposed of. Only
a professional should attempt to reseal an ampoule.
 The safety law requires that damaged containers be
disposed of immediately. "Damaged" includes: cracked or
broken caps; chipped threads on bottle necks; and
corrosion of metal containers.
Keep what you need!!! and In the right storage area
Maintenance … UPDATE
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At monthly intervals, inspect the storage area. Make sure
that all chemicals are in their proper locations. Remove for
disposal any substances with leaking containers, and
repackage or dispose of any with caps that show signs of
corrosion.
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If you store volatiles that represent long-term health
hazards, such as benzene and chlorinated solvents, regular
air-sampling is a good idea.
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If you believe that your laboratory exposes you to
dangerous levels of these substances, you have the right to
ask the CL to arrange for testing of air quality.
Security and safety measures
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lab workers should make sure that lab doors are
locked when unattended.
Many liquid chemicals have hazards that
correspond to more than one storage group ( take
the group that represents the greatest storage
hazard)
Storage areas should not be exposed to extremes
of heat or sunlight.
Laboratories using highly toxic gases should be
equipped with alarmed vapor sensors
THANK YOU ……………….