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how to dispose of old reagent liquids
- Thread starter jiva
- Start date
downwardsfromzero
Boundary condition
I guess you mean reagent liquids, rather than aqua regia.
Their disposal depends entirely on what they contain.
Acids and bases should be neutralised.
Hydrocarbons can be burnt or purified, likewise aliphatic alcohols.
Heavy metals, other toxic compounds or elements, and halogenated organics need to be dealt with by a proper waste disposal facility, although Fenton's reagent will get rid of chloroform or DCM well enough.
This is the briefest outline, I guess (hope) your implied lack of knowledge means you're not talking about anything really dangerous here.
Their disposal depends entirely on what they contain.
Acids and bases should be neutralised.
Hydrocarbons can be burnt or purified, likewise aliphatic alcohols.
Heavy metals, other toxic compounds or elements, and halogenated organics need to be dealt with by a proper waste disposal facility, although Fenton's reagent will get rid of chloroform or DCM well enough.
This is the briefest outline, I guess (hope) your implied lack of knowledge means you're not talking about anything really dangerous here.
downwardsfromzero
Boundary condition
Ah, I see. Test kit reagents. I should have inferred more from the layman speak - of course that's where you would see the word 
To me, a reagent is pretty much anything that's used to take part in a chemical reaction besides the solvent.
So, those test kit reagents are strongly acidic.
Marquis contains formaldehyde which is toxic and nasty. Formaldehyde is quite easily oxidised to formic acid.
Mecke contains selenious acid which is also toxic and nasty. Selenium is a toxic element so it should really be disposed of properly. That said, it's only present at 1%, so 10mg/mL.
Ehrlich contains p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde which is 'only' mildly toxic. Probably the least nasty of the three, it also contains ethanol which is, of course, flammable.
I would advise taking them to your local dump, which should collect hazardous waste chemicals without question. (Assuming you live in a country where this infrastructure exists.)
To me, a reagent is pretty much anything that's used to take part in a chemical reaction besides the solvent.
So, those test kit reagents are strongly acidic.
Marquis contains formaldehyde which is toxic and nasty. Formaldehyde is quite easily oxidised to formic acid.
Mecke contains selenious acid which is also toxic and nasty. Selenium is a toxic element so it should really be disposed of properly. That said, it's only present at 1%, so 10mg/mL.
Ehrlich contains p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde which is 'only' mildly toxic. Probably the least nasty of the three, it also contains ethanol which is, of course, flammable.
I would advise taking them to your local dump, which should collect hazardous waste chemicals without question. (Assuming you live in a country where this infrastructure exists.)