Re: Interesting point! formalin separation from tissues for disposal
From: | Vinnie Della Speranza |
Gayle,
You and I are in agreement. I, like you.consider the lipid in the formalin
to be a colloid for lack of any better term.it is commonly found floating on the
surface of the waste formalin. this is where I'm at now. the Safety people want
it (lipid) out but can't offer any advice on how to do just that and of
course, I will consider any method that creates additional safety concerns
for staff and another full time job to accomplish, undesirable.
re: Carrie's suggestion, neutralization followed by drain disposal would
not be acceptable at my facility. in fact, this would probably cause me greater
headaches as I would have to prove that no formaldehyde remained in the waste
before disposal could occur.
I'm hoping someone will have a reasonable suggestion for what has quickly
becoming a crisis as they are not allowing me to do any additional disposal of
tissues or waste formalin until a solution is found. we don't have the space to
permit this stuff to accumulate.
Vinnie
>>> Gayle Callis <gcallis@montana.edu>
09/10/02 11:59AM >>>
Vinnie,
Hazel brings up a good
point. Next question, is what do you do with the
separate blood and
lipid waste? Has your safety people thought of that? or
do you have a
way to dispose of these in another manner?
Maybe looking into
formalin recycling would be a good choice, since you
have to do so much work
to satisfy the safety people. Then the only waste
you have to dispose
of is what is left in bottom of recycling unit, small
by comparison to
volumes of formalin. Personally, I don't think one can
separate lipid
out totally, it makes a colloidal solution (hope I am
thinking correctly
here) and I am sure everyone has seen cloudy formalin
from very fatty tissue
- and if you can't get it all out, what does your
safety people make you do
then??
Good luck
At 09:02 AM 9/10/02 -0500, you
wrote:
>I don't know if I can offer a reasonable solution, but wouldn't
these
>elements be harmless as they are fixed? I don't
understand their reasoning
>for this. Is the waste company
that hauls the spent formalin away
>suggesting this? We
have to pour ours off as well.
>I sure hope this isn't something that will
come my way. I'll be
>interested in replies to this
thread.
>Hazel
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>>
From: Vinnie Della Speranza [SMTP:dellav@musc.edu]
>>
Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2002 8:43 AM
>>
To: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
>>
Subject: formalin separation from tissues for
disposal
>>
>> I know that this topic has been discussed on
the list numerous times
>> before however we are being faced with a
slightly different slant that I
>> would welcome your input
on.
>>
>> Our Safety dept. has become conerned that our
waste formalin contains
>> blood and lipid that they feel must be
separated from the formalin before
>> it can be carted away.
>> We currently use a filtering funnel when pouring off the waste
formalin
>> but this won't extract the lipid and blood which are in
liquid suspension
>> in the formalin.
>>
>>
Has anyone else been required to address this issue? I'm hoping
someone
>> can offer a reasonable solution that will satisfy our Safety
folks.
>>
>> thanks
>>
>>
>>
>> Vinnie Della
Speranza
>> Manager for Anatomic Pathology Services
>> Medical
University of South Carolina
>> 165 Ashley Avenue Suite
309
>> Charleston, SC 29425
>> Ph: 843-792-6353
>>
fax: 843-792-8974
>
>
>
Gayle
Callis
MT,HT,HTL(ASCP)
Research Histopathology Supervisor
Veterinary
Molecular Biology - Marsh Lab
Montana State University - Bozeman
19th and
Lincoln St
Bozeman MT 59717-3610
406 994-6367 (lab with voice
mail)
406 994-4303 (FAX)
email:
gcallis@montana.edu
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