Joseph

I do it all the time.

John Carroll Dennis
Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology
109 Greene Hall
Auburn University, AL  36849


There are two general methods of disposal:

1) To 10ml of an aqueous solution containing less than 0.9mg/ml DAB, add
5ml of 0.2M KMNO4 and 5ml of 2M H2SO4. After standing for at least 10hr,
decolorize with sodium metabisulfite and make strongly basic by adding
10M KOH solution. The solution is diluted and filtered to remove
manganese compounds which should be discarded with solid hazardous waste
as they may be carcinogenic. The filtrate is neutralized and discraded.

2) To each liter of aqueous solution (pH5-7) containing less than
100ug/ml DAB, add 3 ml of 3% H2O2 and 300 units of horseradish peroxidase
and allow to stand for 3hr. Remove the precipitate by filtration through
a porous glass filter and immerse the filter in a 1:1 mixture of 0.2M
KMNO4 and 2M H2SO4. To the filtrate, add 100ml 5% ascorbic acid to each
liter and discard.

See: Destruction of Hazardous Chemicals in the Laboratory, 2nd Edition,
by Lunn, G. and Sansone, E.B., 1994, John Wiley & Sons.



On Mon, 29 Jan 2001, Nocito, Joseph wrote:

> I'll be the first one to admit, sometimes I ain't too smart. Can someone
> send me the formula for treating waste DAB with potassium permanganate and
> sulfuric acid.  I deleted it before I had a chance to type it up.  See,
> sometimes I ain't too smart.  Thanks
> 
> Joe Nocito, B.S., HT(ASCP)QIHC
> Histology Supervisor
> Christus Santa Rosa Hospitals
> San Antonio, Texas 
> 
>