Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC)

Pollution Prevention Guide for Laboratories

This is a list of pollution prevention ideas that may be implemented at your facility to reduce pollution and possibly save money. These actions are not required. The technology, methods, and practices listed here have been successful at other facilities; however, it is up to you to determine if these actions are appropriate for your facility. Although ideas may reduce waste and emissions, implementation of these ideas is not necessarily exempt from permitting or regulation by the TNRCC.

If you have any questions concerning the information contained in this list, please contact the TNRCC at 512/239-3100 for engineering and technical assistance.

General Laboratory Pollution Prevention

• Scale down the amount of chemical used in experiments.
• Replace wet tests with analytical instrumentation.
• Return unused samples to the process unit for product incorporation.
• Install distillation units to recycle chemicals such as alcohol, xylene, formaldehyde, and others.
• When possible, use alternative materials.

Types of Experiments	Instead of ...	Use...
Quantitative test for halide ions	Carbon tetrachloride	Cyclohexane
Phase change Freezing point depression	Stearic acid	Acetamide
Glassware cleaning	Chromic sulfuric acid solutions or alcoholic potassium hydroxide	Potassium hydroxide Sonic baths Specialty solvents
High temperature measurements (for lower temperatures a less expensive alcohol thermometer will suffice)	Mecury thermometers	Digital thermistor/thermocouple
Acid/base experiments	Hazardous acids/bases	Vinegar/Ammonia

Inventory Control

• Centralize purchasing.
• Purchase smaller amounts of the chemical. Purchasing smaller quantities may cost more in the short run, but disposal costs for unused chemicals more than offsets these costs.
• Install an electronic bar-coding system to track the type and quantity of chemicals coming into and going out of the laboratory.
• Track chemical purchases using the computer. Many popular database programs can be used to effectively track the location and age of chemicals. Set up a system for identifying when a chemical is about to expire, and where it is located.
• Date chemical purchases and use a rotating system. First in, first out.
• Work with the supplier to have them deliver small amounts of chemicals on short notice and arrange for them to take back unopened containers.
• Transfer unused chemicals between laboratories. If one lab has an excess supply of a solvent, see if another lab can use it.
• Sell low-purity chemicals or find another lab that will pick them up for free.

Hospital Laboratories

• Reduce waste gases by using low-leakage anesthetic equipment and performing daily leak testing.
• Investigate reuse of waste formaldehyde in pathology and autopsy laboratories.
• Segregate chemotherapy (antineoplastic) wastes from other wastes.

Promote Pollution Prevention Training

• Educate laboratory staff in meetings, briefings, and one-on-one consultations.
• Provide staff with specific pollution prevention options.
• Establish annual goals for your organization and point to the economic benefits of achieving those goals.
• Give an award for the cleanest laboratory, the most improved laboratory and other categories.