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Chemical SOPs

University of Washington Lab Safety Manual

Chemical Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) on MyChem website.

UW Hazardous Waste Online Collection Request

Roberts Lab Chemical SOP Set

Full, per-hazard-class UW EH&S-format SOPs (SOP-01 through SOP-15, Rev. 0, September 1, 2026) covering every chemical in the FTR 209/213 MyChem inventory. Each SOP documents engineering controls, PPE, storage, spill response, and waste disposal in more detail than the summaries below; consult it for chemicals flagged as Particularly Hazardous Substances (PHS).

RNAzol RT

Purpose: RNAzol RT is used for separating RNA from cells.

Specific Hazards: RNAzol RT is corrosive and harmful if inhaled.

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • REQUIRED:

    • Gloves

    • Chemical fume hood

  • WHEN SPLASH POTENTIAL EXISTS

    • Safety goggles
    • Lab Coat

Waste Disposal:

  • Liquid Waste:
    • Transfer liquid waste to labeled container designated for RNAzol waste.
  • Solid Waste:
    • Tubes/tip/gloves with residual RNAzol should be stored in chemical fume hood for no less than 24hrs and then disposed in regular trash.

Prepared by:

  • Name: Sam White
  • Date: 2016-10-24

Isopropanol (2-propanol)

Purpose: Used in the precipitation of nucleic acids.

Specific Hazards: Highly flammable - keep away from ignition sources.

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • REQUIRED:

    • Gloves

  • WHEN SPLASH POTENTIAL EXISTS

    • Safety goggles

    • Lab Coat

Waste Disposal:

  • Liquid Waste:

    • Transfer liquid waste to labeled container designated for isopropanol waste.

  • Solid Waste:

    • Tubes/tip/gloves with residual isopropanol should be stored in chemical fume hood for no less than 24hrs and then disposed in regular trash.

Prepared by:

  • Name: Sam White
  • Date: 2016-10-24

Diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC)

Purpose: Used as an RNase inhibitor during handling and storage of RNA.

Specific Hazards:

  • Skin irritant and harmful if inhaled.

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • REQUIRED:

    • Gloves
    • Chemical fume hood

  • WHEN SPLASH POTENTIAL EXISTS

    • Safety goggles
    • Lab Coat

Waste Disposal:

  • Liquid Waste:
    • Transfer liquid waste to labeled container designated for DEPC waste.
  • Solid Waste:
    • Tubes/tip/gloves with residual DEPC should be stored in chemical fume hood for no less than 24hrs and then disposed in regular trash.

Prepared by:

  • Name: Sam White
  • Date: 2016-10-24

DNAzol

Purpose: DNAzol is used for separating DNA from cells.

Specific Hazards:

  • DNAzol is corrosive.

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • REQUIRED:

    • Gloves

  • WHEN SPLASH POTENTIAL EXISTS

    • Safety goggles
    • Lab Coat

Waste Disposal:

  • Liquid Waste:
    • Transfer liquid waste to labeled container designated for DNAzol waste.
  • Solid Waste:
    • Tubes/tip/gloves with residual DNAzol should be stored in chemical fume hood for no less than 24hrs and then disposed in regular trash.

Prepared by:

  • Name: Sam White
  • Date: 2016-10-24

Ethanol

Purpose: Used in the precipitation of nucleic acids.

Specific Hazards:

  • Highly flammable - keep away from ignition sources.

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • REQUIRED:

    • Gloves

  • WHEN SPLASH POTENTIAL EXISTS

    • Safety goggles
    • Lab Coat

Waste Disposal:

  • Liquid Waste:

    • Transfer liquid waste to labeled container designated for ethanol waste.

  • Solid Waste:

    • Tubes/tip/gloves with residual ethanol should be stored in chemical fume hood for no less than 24hrs and then disposed in regular trash.

Prepared by:

  • Name: Sam White
  • Date: 2016-10-24

Phenol:chloroform:IAA (25:24:1)

Purpose: Used for purification of nucleic acids.

Specific Hazards:

  • Phenol:chloroform:IAA is corrosive and harmful if inhaled.

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • REQUIRED:

    • Gloves
    • Chemical fume hood

  • WHEN SPLASH POTENTIAL EXISTS

    • Safety goggles
    • Lab Coat

Waste Disposal:

  • Liquid Waste:

    • Transfer liquid waste to labeled container designated for phenol:chloroform:IAA waste.

  • Solid Waste:

    • Tubes/tip/gloves with residual phenol:chloroform:IAA should be stored in chemical fume hood for no less than 24hrs and then disposed in regular trash.

Prepared by:

  • Name: Sam White
  • Date: 2016-10-24

Proteinase K

Purpose: Enzyme used to degrade proteins during DNA isolation.

Specific Hazards:

  • None.

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • REQUIRED:

    • Gloves

Waste Disposal:

  • No requirements.

Prepared by:

  • Name: Sam White
  • Date: 2016-10-24

Resazurin assay

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • REQUIRED:

    • Gloves

Chemical exposures:

  • dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)

  • flammable

  • skin irritant

  • HyClone antibiotic antimycotic (PEN/STREP/FUNGIZONE) solution

  • skin irritant

  • resazurin

  • see also Resazurin sodium salt (powder) for hazards specific to weighing the dry powder

Waste Disposal:

  • Waste can be washed down sinks with DI H2O, per EH&S.

Prepared by:

  • Name: Sam White
  • Date: 2024-07-19

Sodium acetate

Purpose: Used to precipitate nucleic acids.

Specific Hazards:

  • Skin irritant.

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • REQUIRED:
    • Gloves

Waste Disposal:

  • Liquid Waste:

    • Dispose in sink.

  • Solid Waste:

    • Tubes/tip/gloves with residual sodium acetate can be disposed in regular trash.

Prepared by:

  • Name: Sam White
  • Date: 2016-10-24

Ethidium bromide (EtBr)

Purpose: Use for staining nucleic acids in agarose gels.

Specific Hazards:

  • Mutagen and potential carcinogen.

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • REQUIRED:

    • Gloves

  • WHEN SPLASH POTENTIAL EXISTS

    • Safety goggles
    • Lab Coat

Waste Disposal:

NOTE: Disposal instructions are only for dilute EtBr concentrations (< 10ug/L) that are used in the lab. Concentrations higher than this are hazardous waste and should be placed in a labeled, dedicated container.

  • Liquid Waste:

    • Dispose in sink.

  • Solid Waste:

    • Tubes/gloves/gels should be double bagged, labelled "non-hazardous", and then disposed in regular trash.
    • Tips should be bagged and disposed of in broken glass containers. Prepared by:

  • Name: Sam White

  • Date: 2016-10-24

Qiagen Kits

Purpose: Use for isolation of nucleic acids.

Specific Hazards:

  • Harmful, irritant.

NOTE: Do not combine kit reagents with bleach (sodium hypchlorite)!

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • REQUIRED:
    • Gloves
  • WHEN SPLASH POTENTIAL EXISTS
    • Safety goggles
    • Lab Coat

Waste Disposal:

  • Liquid Waste:

    • Transfer liquid waste to labeled container designated for Qiagen Kit waste.

  • Solid Waste:

    • Tubes/tip/gloves with residual sodium acetate can be disposed in regular trash.

Prepared by:

  • Name: Sam White
  • Date: 2016-10-24

Acetonitrile

Purpose: Used as a solvent in molecular biology and analytical procedures.

Specific Hazards:

  • Highly flammable.
  • Acutely toxic by all routes; metabolized to cyanide. Overexposure can cause delayed-onset symptoms (up to several hours) - treat any suspected overexposure as a medical emergency even if the person initially feels well.

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • REQUIRED:
    • Gloves (nitrile for incidental contact; butyl rubber or laminate glove worn over nitrile for direct handling - acetonitrile breaks through nitrile within minutes)
    • Chemical fume hood (acetonitrile must never be used outside the fume hood)
  • WHEN SPLASH POTENTIAL EXISTS
    • Safety goggles
    • Lab Coat

Waste Disposal:

  • Liquid Waste:
    • Transfer liquid waste to labeled container designated for acetonitrile waste. Never combine with acid waste (releases hydrogen cyanide).
  • Solid Waste:
    • Tubes/tip/gloves with residual acetonitrile should be stored in chemical fume hood for no less than 24hrs and then disposed in regular trash.

Prepared by:

  • Name: Sam White
  • Date: 2026-09-11

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)

Purpose: Used as a cryoprotectant and as a solvent for dissolving small-molecule stock solutions (e.g., 5-azacytidine, resazurin, serotonin).

Specific Hazards:

  • Combustible liquid.
  • Not acutely toxic itself, but rapidly carries any dissolved solute through intact skin - treat every DMSO solution as at least as hazardous as the most hazardous compound dissolved in it.
  • Freezes at ~18.5°C; warm a solidified bottle in a 37°C water bath, never with a flame or heat gun.

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • REQUIRED:
    • Gloves (butyl rubber, or double 8-mil nitrile changed at least every 15 minutes for brief incidental contact - standard thin nitrile is NOT adequate)
    • Chemical fume hood (all handling of neat DMSO and all preparation of DMSO stock solutions)
  • WHEN SPLASH POTENTIAL EXISTS
    • Safety goggles
    • Lab Coat

Waste Disposal:

  • Liquid Waste:
    • Transfer liquid waste to labeled container designated for DMSO waste, listing any dissolved solute. Never pour down the drain, even dilute.
  • Solid Waste:
    • Tubes/tip/gloves with residual DMSO should be stored in chemical fume hood for no less than 24hrs and then disposed in regular trash. Debris contaminated with a hazardous solute (e.g., 5-azacytidine) is collected as hazardous solid waste instead.

Prepared by:

  • Name: Sam White
  • Date: 2026-09-11

Chloroform (and chloroform:isoamyl alcohol mixture)

Purpose: Used for phase separation during nucleic acid purification (e.g., after TRIzol/TRI Reagent lysis).

Specific Hazards:

  • PARTICULARLY HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE: select carcinogen and suspected reproductive toxicant.
  • Primary exposure route is inhalation; cardiac sensitization can occur at high concentrations.
  • Can slowly form phosgene gas on contact with air/light, hot surfaces, or open flames - keep containers tightly closed, in the dark, and away from heat.
  • Never store or use near strong bases (e.g., sodium hydroxide - risk of violent reaction and dichlorocarbene formation).

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • REQUIRED:
    • Gloves (double gloving - inner nitrile plus an outer chloroform-resistant laminate or Viton glove for any transfer over 10 mL)
    • Chemical fume hood (ALL work with chloroform, without exception, including opening tubes after centrifugation)
    • Safety goggles
  • WHEN SPLASH POTENTIAL EXISTS
    • Face shield
    • Lab Coat

Waste Disposal:

  • Liquid Waste:
    • Transfer liquid waste to a labeled container designated "HALOGENATED ORGANIC WASTE." Keep separate from non-halogenated solvent waste (ethanol/isopropanol) and never combine with strong base, strong oxidizer, or guanidinium-containing waste.
  • Solid Waste:
    • Tubes/tip/gloves with residual chloroform should be stored in chemical fume hood for no less than 24hrs and then disposed of as hazardous solid waste (not regular trash).

Prepared by:

  • Name: Sam White
  • Date: 2026-09-11

Formaldehyde solution 37% (formalin)

Purpose: Used to fix tissue (e.g., 10% neutral buffered formalin diluted from the 37% stock).

Specific Hazards:

  • PARTICULARLY HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE: known human carcinogen, germ cell mutagen, and respiratory/skin sensitizer; acutely toxic by all routes and corrosive.
  • Never mix with hydrochloric acid or chloride-containing acidic solutions (forms bis(chloromethyl) ether, a potent carcinogen).
  • Do not refrigerate the 37% stock - cold promotes paraformaldehyde precipitation, which releases formaldehyde gas.

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • REQUIRED:
    • Gloves (8 mil+ nitrile for diluted formalin; butyl rubber or laminate over nitrile for the 37% stock and all dilutions)
    • Chemical fume hood (all handling of the 37% stock, dilution, and specimen jar filling/decanting)
    • Safety goggles
  • WHEN SPLASH POTENTIAL EXISTS
    • Face shield
    • Lab Coat with chemically resistant apron and sleeves

Waste Disposal:

  • Liquid Waste:
    • Transfer liquid waste (including dilute spent fixative) to labeled container designated for formaldehyde waste. Never pour down the drain in any concentration; keep separate from acid, base, oxidizer, and halogenated solvent waste.
  • Solid Waste:
    • Fixed tissue and contaminated debris are bagged and submitted to EH&S as formaldehyde-contaminated solid waste (or transferred to 70% ethanol for archiving). Never autoclave.

Prepared by:

  • Name: Sam White
  • Date: 2026-09-11

TRIzol LS Reagent / TRI Reagent

Purpose: Phenol/guanidinium monophase reagents used for RNA/DNA lysis and extraction (same hazard class as RNAzol RT, above).

Specific Hazards:

  • PARTICULARLY HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE: acutely toxic by all routes and a germ cell mutagen.
  • Phenol is absorbed through skin extremely rapidly and produces a painless white burn (it is a local anesthetic) - a serious exposure can occur without being felt.
  • Guanidinium thiocyanate releases HIGHLY TOXIC HYDROGEN CYANIDE GAS on contact with acid or bleach - the single most important incompatibility for this reagent.

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • REQUIRED:
    • Gloves (double gloving - inner nitrile plus an outer butyl rubber or laminate glove)
    • Chemical fume hood (all dispensing, lysis, homogenizing, and phase separation)
    • Safety goggles
  • WHEN SPLASH POTENTIAL EXISTS
    • Face shield (required for transfers over 50 mL)
    • Lab Coat with chemically resistant sleeves

Waste Disposal:

  • Liquid Waste:
    • Organic phase/interphase after chloroform addition is HALOGENATED waste (see Chloroform). Aqueous/guanidinium-containing phase goes to a separate labeled container marked "CONTAINS GUANIDINIUM - DO NOT ADD ACID OR BLEACH - CYANIDE HAZARD."
  • Solid Waste:
    • Tubes/tip/gloves with residual reagent should be stored in chemical fume hood for no less than 24hrs and then disposed of as hazardous solid waste (not regular trash).

Prepared by:

  • Name: Sam White
  • Date: 2026-09-11

Guanidinium-based extraction kits (Quick-DNA/RNA kits, PAXgene kits, DNA/RNA Shield)

Purpose: Kit lysis/binding buffers used for nucleic acid isolation and sample preservation; contain guanidine salts but no phenol (compare DNAzol, above).

Specific Hazards:

  • Corrosive; acute toxicity (oral, dermal, inhalation).
  • Quick-DNA Miniprep Plus lysis buffer additionally contains flammable solvent (isopropanol).
  • Releases hydrogen cyanide gas on contact with acid or bleach - same incompatibility as other guanidinium reagents.

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • REQUIRED:
    • Gloves (6-8 mil nitrile, changed on any contact)
  • WHEN SPLASH POTENTIAL EXISTS
    • Safety goggles
    • Lab Coat

Waste Disposal:

  • Liquid Waste:
    • Transfer to a container labeled "CONTAINS GUANIDINIUM - DO NOT ADD ACID OR BLEACH - CYANIDE HAZARD." Never pour down the drain.
  • Solid Waste:
    • Columns/tubes/tips/gloves with residual reagent are collected as hazardous solid waste (not regular trash). Never autoclave.

Prepared by:

  • Name: Sam White
  • Date: 2026-09-11

Corrosive acids (sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, glacial acetic acid)

Purpose: Used for pH adjustment, acid-washing glassware, and as buffer components.

Specific Hazards:

  • PARTICULARLY HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE: concentrated sulfuric acid mist is a Category 1A carcinogen.
  • Corrosive to skin, eyes, and metals. ALWAYS ADD ACID TO WATER, NEVER WATER TO ACID - dilution is strongly exothermic and can spatter.
  • Reacts with bleach to release chlorine gas, and with cyanide/guanidinium-containing waste to release hydrogen cyanide - never combine with guanidinium-containing waste.

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • REQUIRED:
    • Gloves (butyl rubber or neoprene over nitrile for concentrated acid; nitrile alone is sufficient for dilute acid/buffers)
    • Chemical fume hood (all dispensing, dilution, and transfer of concentrated acid)
    • Safety goggles
  • WHEN SPLASH POTENTIAL EXISTS
    • Face shield
    • Lab Coat with chemically resistant apron

Waste Disposal:

  • Liquid Waste:
    • Transfer to labeled container designated for acid waste. Keep separate from base, oxidizer, solvent, and guanidinium-containing waste. Dilute acid (pH ≥ 2) containing no other hazardous constituent may be neutralized to pH 6-9 and sewered only if EH&S guidance for that specific solution permits it.
  • Solid Waste:
    • Tubes/tip/gloves with residual acid should be stored in chemical fume hood for no less than 24hrs and then disposed in regular trash, unless saturated (then hazardous waste).

Prepared by:

  • Name: Sam White
  • Date: 2026-09-11

Sodium hydroxide

Purpose: Used for pH adjustment, RNase decontamination of surfaces, and glassware cleaning.

Specific Hazards:

  • Corrosive to skin, eyes, and metals. Alkali burns penetrate faster and deeper than acid burns and are a leading cause of chemical blindness.
  • Dissolving pellets in water is strongly exothermic - add pellets slowly to cold water, never water to pellets.
  • Reacts with metals (aluminum, zinc, tin, galvanized) to release flammable hydrogen gas, and with chloroform to form dichlorocarbene - never combine with chloroform.

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • REQUIRED:
    • Gloves (butyl rubber or neoprene over nitrile for pellets and solutions ≥1M; nitrile alone is sufficient below 1M)
    • Chemical fume hood or bench shield with ice-water bath (weighing pellets and preparing solutions ≥1M)
    • Safety goggles
  • WHEN SPLASH POTENTIAL EXISTS
    • Face shield
    • Lab Coat

Waste Disposal:

  • Liquid Waste:
    • Transfer to labeled container designated for base waste. Keep separate from acid, halogenated solvent (chloroform), oxidizer, and metal-containing waste. Dilute base (pH ≤ 12.5) containing no other hazardous constituent may be neutralized to pH 6-9 and sewered only if EH&S guidance for that specific solution permits it.
  • Solid Waste:
    • Tubes/tip/gloves with residual NaOH should be stored in chemical fume hood for no less than 24hrs and then disposed in regular trash, unless saturated (then hazardous waste).

Prepared by:

  • Name: Sam White
  • Date: 2026-09-11

Thiol-reducing and alkylating agents (2-mercaptoethanol, 2-iodoacetamide, TCEP)

Purpose: 2-mercaptoethanol (BME) is added to RNA lysis and protein sample buffers as a reducing agent; iodoacetamide is used to alkylate cysteines in proteomics sample prep; TCEP is used for disulfide reduction. (Compare DEPC, above - same hazard class.)

Specific Hazards:

  • PARTICULARLY HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE: 2-mercaptoethanol is acutely toxic by dermal and inhalation routes and is a suspected reproductive toxicant. Iodoacetamide is a respiratory/skin sensitizer.
  • TCEP is corrosive to skin and eyes.
  • DEPC-treated water builds CO2 pressure as it hydrolyzes - vent before capping a waste container, and never add DEPC to Tris-containing buffers.

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • REQUIRED:
    • Gloves (double gloving - inner nitrile plus an outer butyl rubber or laminate glove for BME and DEPC; 6-8 mil nitrile alone is sufficient for iodoacetamide and TCEP powders/solutions)
    • Chemical fume hood
    • Safety goggles
  • WHEN SPLASH POTENTIAL EXISTS
    • Face shield (required for BME transfers over 10 mL)
    • Lab Coat

Waste Disposal:

  • Liquid Waste:
    • Transfer liquid waste to labeled container designated for thiol/alkylating agent waste. Do not pour down the drain. Do not autoclave BME- or iodoacetamide-containing waste. Never seal a container of DEPC waste that may still be evolving CO2.
  • Solid Waste:
    • Tubes/tip/gloves with residual reagent should be stored in chemical fume hood for no less than 24hrs and then disposed as hazardous solid waste (not regular trash).

Prepared by:

  • Name: Sam White
  • Date: 2026-09-11

5-Azacytidine

Purpose: DNA methyltransferase inhibitor used in epigenetics experiments; typically dissolved in DMSO.

Specific Hazards:

  • PARTICULARLY HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE: cytotoxic antineoplastic drug; mutagenic, clastogenic, embryotoxic, and a suspect human carcinogen. Handle as a hazardous drug (NIOSH hazardous drug guidance).
  • Weighing the powder produces a respirable, cytotoxic dust.
  • A DMSO stock of this compound delivers a systemic dose readily on skin contact - see DMSO.

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • REQUIRED:
    • Gloves (double ASTM D6978 chemotherapy-rated nitrile; outer glove must be butyl rubber or laminate if the stock is prepared in DMSO)
    • Chemical fume hood or biological safety cabinet
    • Safety goggles
  • WHEN SPLASH POTENTIAL EXISTS
    • Face shield
    • Lab Coat, gown

Waste Disposal:

  • Liquid Waste:
    • ALL material that has contacted 5-azacytidine is hazardous waste, including treated culture medium. Transfer to labeled container marked "CYTOTOXIC." Never pour down the drain in any concentration.
  • Solid Waste:
    • Tips/tubes/gloves/vessels are collected in a dedicated container labeled "5-AZACYTIDINE CYTOTOXIC SOLID WASTE" - not the regular trash. Never autoclave.

Prepared by:

  • Name: Sam White
  • Date: 2026-09-11

Resazurin sodium salt (powder)

Purpose: Dry powder used to prepare stock solutions for the resazurin viability assay.

Specific Hazards:

  • Eye and skin irritant; respiratory irritant when weighing the dry powder.
  • PARTICULARLY HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE designation applies to this hazard group because it is co-inventoried with reproductive toxicants (4-methoxyphenol, serotonin) under the same SOP - see Reproductive toxicants and bioactive compounds.

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • REQUIRED:
    • Gloves (6-8 mil nitrile)
    • Safety goggles (for powder weighing)
  • WHEN SPLASH POTENTIAL EXISTS
    • Lab Coat

Waste Disposal:

  • Liquid Waste:
    • Concentrated stock solutions are collected as chemical waste; dilute working solutions may be sewered only if EH&S guidance for that specific solution permits it (see updated note on the Resazurin assay entry, above).
  • Solid Waste:
    • Weigh boats/spatulas/tips with residual powder are collected as hazardous solid waste.

Prepared by:

  • Name: Sam White
  • Date: 2026-09-11

Reproductive toxicants and bioactive compounds (4-methoxyphenol, serotonin creatinine sulfate, acetylcholine chloride, poly(I:C))

Purpose: 4-methoxyphenol is a polymerization inhibitor/test compound; serotonin creatinine sulfate induces spawning in bivalves; acetylcholine chloride is used to test cholinergic responses; poly(I:C) is a synthetic double-stranded RNA immune stimulant.

Specific Hazards:

  • PARTICULARLY HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE: 4-methoxyphenol and serotonin creatinine sulfate are suspected reproductive toxicants. 4-methoxyphenol is also a skin sensitizer and acutely toxic to aquatic life.
  • All four are supplied as powders; weighing generates respirable dust.
  • Poly(I:C) is biologically active (potent interferon inducer) rather than chemically toxic; treat culture waste as mixed biological/chemical waste.

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • REQUIRED:
    • Gloves (double 4-6 mil nitrile for 4-methoxyphenol and serotonin powders; single 6-8 mil nitrile for acetylcholine chloride and poly(I:C))
    • Safety goggles (for powder weighing and stock preparation)
  • WHEN SPLASH POTENTIAL EXISTS
    • Lab Coat

Waste Disposal:

  • Liquid Waste:
    • 4-methoxyphenol-containing solutions and any seawater used for serotonin-induced spawning must NEVER be poured down the drain or discharged to a seawater system. Collect as hazardous waste unless EH&S has confirmed in writing that a specific dilute solution may be sewered.
  • Solid Waste:
    • Weigh boats/spatulas/tips with residual powder are collected as hazardous solid waste.

Prepared by:

  • Name: Sam White
  • Date: 2026-09-11

Oxidizers and metal compounds (copper(II) nitrate, zirconium oxide beads)

Purpose: Copper(II) nitrate is used for trace-metal copper exposure experiments and as an analytical standard; zirconium oxide beads are used dry for bead-beating tissue homogenization.

Specific Hazards:

  • Copper(II) nitrate is an OXIDIZER - can intensify or initiate a fire in contact with combustible material (paper, absorbent, solvents, reducing agents). Do not heat (releases toxic nitrogen dioxide gas).
  • Corrosive to eyes; acutely toxic to aquatic life (copper is lethal to bivalve larvae and many invertebrates at microgram-per-liter concentrations) - a release into a shared seawater system can harm other researchers' experiments.
  • Zirconium oxide beads are chemically inert; their hazard comes from whatever lysate they contact (see TRIzol LS Reagent / TRI Reagent).

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • REQUIRED:
    • Gloves (6-8 mil nitrile)
    • Chemical fume hood (weighing copper(II) nitrate and preparing stock solutions)
    • Safety goggles
  • WHEN SPLASH POTENTIAL EXISTS
    • Face shield
    • Lab Coat

Waste Disposal:

  • Liquid Waste:
    • No copper-containing liquid may be poured down the drain or returned to a seawater system, in any concentration. Transfer to a dedicated container labeled "COPPER - HEAVY METAL - OXIDIZER," kept separate from solvent/organic/reducing-agent waste.
  • Solid Waste:
    • Used zirconium oxide beads are disposed of with the lysate they were used with (typically hazardous guanidinium waste). Weigh boats/tips with copper residue are hazardous solid waste.

Prepared by:

  • Name: Sam White
  • Date: 2026-09-11

Cell-culture enzymes and antibiotics (Liberase, DNase I, lysyl endopeptidase, HyClone Pen/Strep and Antibiotic/Antimycotic)

Purpose: Liberase and lysyl endopeptidase are used for tissue/protein digestion; DNase I is used in extraction and library prep; HyClone Pen/Strep and Antibiotic/Antimycotic solutions are added to cell culture medium. (Compare Proteinase K, above.)

Specific Hazards:

  • Respiratory and skin SENSITIZERS, not acute toxins - repeated exposure to lyophilized powder dust or beta-lactam antibiotics can induce occupational asthma or allergic dermatitis that then recurs at very low exposures. Prevention of the first sensitizing exposure is the entire control strategy.
  • A person with a known penicillin allergy may react severely to the Pen/Strep and Antibiotic/Antimycotic solutions.

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • REQUIRED:
    • Gloves (4-6 mil nitrile, changed immediately on any contact - latex gloves are not used in this lab)
    • Safety goggles (when opening/reconstituting lyophilized powder)
  • WHEN SPLASH POTENTIAL EXISTS
    • Lab Coat

Waste Disposal:

  • Liquid Waste:
    • Antibiotic-containing waste should not be poured down the drain as a matter of environmental stewardship (contributes to antimicrobial resistance); collect concentrate and bulk antibiotic-containing medium as chemical waste. Enzyme solutions are collected as chemical waste rather than sinked.
  • Solid Waste:
    • Vials/tips/tubes/plates with residual enzyme or antibiotic are collected in a lined, CLOSED, labeled container - not an open trash can, which can aerosolize dried enzyme residue.

Prepared by:

  • Name: Sam White
  • Date: 2026-09-11

Low-hazard buffers, salts, stains, and detergents (EDTA, agarose, IGEPAL CA-630, trypan blue, Brilliant Blue R, bromophenol blue, calcium chloride)

Purpose: Common nucleic acid, electrophoresis, and cell culture reagents. An entry of "NOT CLASSIFIED" or "No identified hazard at this time" in MyChem means the hazard field has not been populated, not that the manufacturer has determined the product is non-hazardous - check the SDS before first use of any new kit or reagent in this group.

Specific Hazards:

  • IGEPAL CA-630 causes serious eye damage (Category 1) and is very toxic to aquatic life (Category 1) - do not sewer.
  • Trypan blue is a suspected carcinogen/teratogen in some classifications despite a sparse MyChem record.
  • Calcium chloride and EDTA are eye irritants. Sucrose and agarose powders are combustible dusts in bulk. Molten agarose (90-100°C) is a thermal burn hazard and can boil over violently in a microwave if moved while superheated.

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • REQUIRED:
    • Gloves (4-6 mil nitrile examination gloves)
  • WHEN SPLASH POTENTIAL EXISTS
    • Safety goggles (required, not just splash-potential, when dispensing IGEPAL CA-630, pouring molten agarose, or handling volumes over 1 L)
    • Lab Coat

Waste Disposal:

  • Liquid Waste:
    • Dilute, non-hazardous aqueous buffers and salines (TE, Tris, PBS, DPBS, sodium acetate, calcium chloride, sucrose, commercial pH buffers) with no other hazardous constituent may be sewered with copious water - confirm against the SDS first. IGEPAL CA-630 and trypan blue/stain solutions must NOT be sewered; collect as hazardous waste.
  • Solid Waste:
    • Agarose gels not stained with ethidium bromide are regular solid waste once solidified (gels stained with EtBr are hazardous waste - see Ethidium bromide).

Prepared by:

  • Name: Sam White
  • Date: 2026-09-11

Compressed carbon dioxide (gas cylinder)

Purpose: Used to control pH/carbonate chemistry in seawater for ocean acidification experiments.

Specific Hazards:

  • ASPHYXIATION: CO2 is heavier than air, colorless, odorless, and physiologically active - it causes headache, breathlessness, confusion, and unconsciousness well below the point of oxygen deficiency. A full 55 lb cylinder releasing in a small, poorly ventilated room can produce an immediately dangerous atmosphere.
  • PHYSICAL ENERGY: a falling cylinder with a sheared valve can become an uncontrolled projectile. Secure every cylinder upright with a chain or strap at all times, with the valve protection cap in place whenever a regulator is not attached.
  • CRYOGENIC BURN: rapid discharge forms dry ice/very cold gas (-78°C), which causes frostbite on skin contact.
  • If anyone develops an unexplained headache or breathlessness while CO2 is in use, everyone leaves the room immediately.

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • REQUIRED:
    • Gloves (leather or general-purpose work gloves for moving/securing the cylinder; insulated or cryogenic-rated gloves if contact with cold discharge or dry ice is possible)
    • Safety goggles (whenever connecting, disconnecting, moving, or pressurizing a cylinder)
  • WHEN SPLASH POTENTIAL EXISTS
    • Face shield (if working on a line under pressure)

Waste Disposal:

  • No chemical waste is generated; CO2 is dissolved in experimental seawater or vented.
  • EMPTY CYLINDERS ARE NOT WASTE - never place in trash, dumpster, recycling, or hazardous waste pickup. Mark "MT"/"EMPTY," close the valve, cap it, and return to the supplier for refilling. A defective, leaking, or unlabeled cylinder is tagged "DEFECTIVE - DO NOT USE" and reported to the supplier and EH&S - do not attempt to vent or empty it in the lab.

Prepared by:

  • Name: Sam White
  • Date: 2026-09-11