RE: Paraformaldehyde disposal question

From: Roccm@mri.sari.ac.uk
Date: Wed Sep 04 2002 - 03:11:54 EST


Dear Patricia,
with the help our chemical safety officer this is what we decided to do:

PFA waste in the waste tank (that is very diluted indeed) goes in the sink
(after bleaching).

Unused sample left in the tube (1% PFA) goes in a specific waste bottle that
is kept till is full and is disposed as chemical waste.

We do not autoclave any sample containing PFA since the high temperature
could lead to production of toxic fumes that could be harmful for our
service room personnel.

I hope this help
Mara

Mara Rocchi
Moredun Research Institute
Pentland Science Park
Bush Loan, Penicuik
EH25 0PZ
Scotland, UK
Tel: +44-131-4455111
Fax: +44-131-4456111
e-mail: mara.rocchi@mri.sari.ac.uk



-----Original Message-----
From: Patricia Echeagaray [mailto:pechado@hotmail.com]
Sent: 02 September 2002 16:40
To: cyto-inbox
Subject: Paraformaldehyde disposal question


All,

At my current company, one of the scientists here insists that the waste
from counting fixed cells on the coulter counter should be saved and
disposed of as chemical waste. The cells (T'cells/PBMCs) are fixed in a
final concentration of 1% PFA. 100 ul are added to a 10 ml volume of ISOTON.
Can any of you tell me why...assuming this is common practice? At other
places I've been in the past, I'm fairly sure we just bleached it and tossed
it down the sink. That is what is done with the other 100 ul of fixed cells
(where PFA is much more concentrated, of course) since we make 200 ul total
volume (100 ul 2%PFA + 100 ul cells).

Thank in advance!

Tricia Echeagaray

   _____

Join the world's largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. Click Here
<http://g.msn.com/1HM1ENUS/c157??PI=44364>



The information contained in this e-mail message and any files transmitted
with it is confidential and may be legally privileged. It is intended only
for the addressee and others authorised to receive it. If you are not the
intended recipient or the person responsible for delivering the message to
the intended recipient you are advised that you have received the e-mail in
error and that any disclosure, copying, distribution or action taken in
reliance on the contents of the e-mail and its attachments is strictly
prohibited and may be unlawful. Please advise the sender immediately by
replying to this e-mail and delete it and all copies from your system.



This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Sun Jan 05 2003 - 19:26:20 EST