SOP Title: Destruction of Laboratory Waste
- Objective:
To lay down the procedure for Destruction of Laboratory Waste generated in Quality Control Department.
- Scope:
This procedure is applicable for Destruction of left over samples of Raw materials, In process samples, Finished product, Packing materials, Paper waste, Metal waste, Electronic waste, Chemical waste, Plastic waste and Solvent waste.
- Responsibility:
- Quality Control Department: To prepare and review the SOP. To follow the procedures laid down for Destruction of Laboratory Waste generated in Quality Control Department as per this SOP.
- Quality Assurance Department: To review and approve the SOP and Annexures.
- Accountability:
Head Quality Control Department, Head Quality Assurance Department
- Procedure:
| 5.1 | Safety Precautions: | |
| 5.1.1 | Always wear Personal Protective Equipments such as safety goggles, gloves, nose masks when carrying out destruction process. | |
| 5.1.2 | Before making any slurry refers to MSDS for chemicals and solvents for its chemical compatibility. | |
| 5.1.3 | Organic liquids that are immiscible with water must not be disposed to the sink. | |
| 5.1.4 | Never handle broken glass wares with bare hands. Use cut resistant gloves for glassware destruction. | |
| 5.1.5 | All the waste containers must be properly labelled and closed except when adding contents. | |
| 5.2 | Destruction of leftover samples of analysis: | |
| 5.2.1 | After completion of analysis of material or product, if results complies and all the reference data are submitted with necessary verification to concern person or department, Quality Control analyst should take permission from Department Head for destruction of leftover samples and after granting approval, analyst shall destroy the leftover samples. | |
| 5.2.2 | If sample is Raw Material in powder form, prepare a slurry and store in the container designated for ‘Leftover Sample Destruction’. | |
| 5.2.3 | If sample is in solid dosage form packed in market pack, tear off the packing and prepare slurry and store in the container designated for ‘Leftover Sample Destruction’. | |
| 5.2.4 | If sample is in liquid dosage form in packed form, tear off the packing by opening seal, pour the liquid in water to make it dilute and store in the container ‘Leftover Sample Destruction’. | |
| 5.2.5 | Neutralise the slurry or liquid sample as per procedure mentioned under point no. 5.4 before sending it to ETP. | |
| 5.2.6 | ‘Leftover Sample Destruction’ container shall be Transfer to ETP Plant when it gets filled up to 80% of its total capacity or end of the day. | |
| 5.2.7 | If sample is printed Packing Material then shred the sample in small pieces and transfer to the scrap yard. | |
| 5.2.8 | If sample is containers and closers then cross mark the container by marker pen and damage or de-shape the sample and transfer to the scrap yard for disposal. | |
| 5.2.9 | Enter all the details such as Name of sample, Batch number, A.R. No., Quantity destroyed and destroyed by in “Leftover Sample Destruction Register” Annexure. | |
| 5.2.10 | Quality Control Head or Supervisor shall verify the destruction records on the register. | |
| 5.2.11 | If sample is hazardous form, prepare a slurry and store in ‘Leftover Sample Destruction’ storage container and shall be sent to outside hazardous management party. | |
| 5.3 | Destruction of chemicals/solvents: | |
| 5.3.1 | The chemical waste generated during the analysis of samples shall be collected in containers which are clearly labeled as ‘SOLID WASTE’ or ‘LIQUID WASTE’. | |
| 5.3.2 | These containers shall be emptied into the ‘Leftover Sample Destruction’ container by making slurry at the end of the day or if it gets filled up to 80% of its total capacity before the end of the day. | |
| 5.3.3 | Highly concentrated acids e.g. Sulphuric, Nitric or Hydrochloric acid should be first diluted with water (adding the acid to the water) to a concentration below 10% , Neutralise it and then send it as hazardous waste for disposal. For example if 50 ml of concentrated Hydrochloric acid is there for disposal then add about 500 ml water to dilute it, Neutralize and transfer to ETP unit. | |
| 5.3.4 | Expired solid chemicals shall be stored in separate container by making slurry with suitable diluents Neutralize and transfer to ETP unit. | |
| 5.3.5 | Expired liquid chemicals, Reagent solutions, Volumetric solutions shall be disposed by making slurry with compatible diluents, Neutralize and transfer to ETP unit. | |
| 5.3.6 | Empty chemical containers, solvent bottles, vials to be stored separately and send to scrap yard for disposal. | |
| 5.3.7 | Empty chemical containers, solvent bottles, vials should be rinsed with water prior to disposal as the traces of previous solvent may cause harm. | |
| 5.4 | Neutralization procedure for laboratory waste: | |
| 5.4.1 | Do not pour concentrated acidic or alkaline solutions directly into drains. Neutralize the solutions before disposal. | |
| 5.4.2 | If the acid or base is highly concentrated, it is prudent to first dilute it with cold water (adding the acid or base to the water) to a concentration below 10%. Add acid or base in to the water slowly with continues stirring to make it dilute about 10%.
Note: Before dilution of any unknown chemical check for the pH to confirm that the solution is acidic or basic by using pH paper strips. |
|
| a. Neutralization Procedure for Acids and acidic waste: | ||
| 5.4.3 | Sodium hydrogen carbonate is often used for neutralization because even an excess addition does not make the solution too alkaline. Add it into an acidic solution with stirring until bubbling is ceased. | |
| 5.4.4 | Make a saturated solution of Sodium Carbonate or Sodium Hydrogen Bicarbonate (soda ash) in a beaker or use an inorganic base diluted in water (1:10 ratio). Dilute acid at least 1:10 (1 part acid to 9 parts of water) by slowly pouring and stirring the acid into the water. | |
| 5.4.5 | Slowly add sodium carbonate or other basic solution into diluted acid with stirring. | |
| 5.4.6 | Monitor pH with pH indicator strips or pH meter or other pH test method. Ensure pH is between 6 and 9. | |
| 5.4.7 | Before sending it to ETP, stir the mixture and do a final check of the pH, to confirm proper neutralization. | |
| 5.4.8 | After confirmation of neutralisation i.e. pH between 6 and 9, send the slurry container to ETP. | |
| 5.4.9 | Below bases also can be used for neutralization of acids.
Example: Ammonium Hydroxide, Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Oxide, Magnesium carbonate, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Hydroxide. |
|
| b. Neutralization procedure for Bases and Basic waste: | ||
| 5.4.10 | Dilute alkali wastes at least 1:10 (1 part alkali to 9 parts water) by slowly pouring and stirring the base into the water. | |
| 5.4.11 | Neutralize the diluted alkali solution with a previously diluted inorganic acid like Hydrochloric acid. | |
| 5.4.12 | Slowly add Dilute hydrochloric acid or other acidic solution into diluted Base with stirring. | |
| 5.4.13 | Monitor pH with pH indicator strips or pH meter or other pH test method. Ensure pH is between 6 and 9. | |
| 5.4.14 | Before sending it to ETP, stir the mixture and do a final check of the pH, to confirm proper neutralization. | |
| 5.4.15 | After confirmation of neutralisation i.e. pH between 6 and 9, send the slurry container to ETP. Into | |
| 5.4.16 | Below acids also can be used for neutralization of bases.
Example: Sulphuric Acid, Boric Acid, Nitric Acid, Acid Aqua Reginal HCL/HNO3 Nitrohydrochloric Acid (3: mixture), Orthophosphoric Acid. |
|
| c. Neutralisation/ De-activation procedure for Organic Chemical waste: | ||
| 5.4.17 | Organic chemicals (Thiols, Sulfides etc.) can be destroyed by oxidation with sodium hypochlorite. | |
| 5.4.18 | Use 1:4 ratio of sodium hypochlorite (Approx 5.25%) to organic chemicals or slurry.
For example: For 4 litter of organic chemical or slurry use 1 litter Sodium hypochlorite for neutralisation/ deactivation. |
|
| Note: Calcium hypochlorite may be used as an alternative to sodium hypochlorite. | ||
| 5.4.19 | Stir the mixture, allow it to stand for overnight( at least 8 hours) and sent it next day to ETP for disposal. | |
| Note: Because sodium hypochlorite solutions deteriorate on storage, it is advisable to have relatively fresh material available. A 5.25% solution of sodium hypochlorite has 25 g of active chlorine per liter. If determination of the active hypochlorite content is justified, it can be accomplished as follows. Ten millilitres of the sodium hypochlorite solution is diluted to 100.0 mL, and then 10.0 mL of this diluted reagent is added to a solution of 1 g of potassium iodide and 12.5 mL of 2 M acetic acid in 50 mL of distilled water. Using a starch solution as indicator, titrate the solution with 0.1 N sodium thiosulfate. One millilitre of titrant corresponds to 3.5 mg of active chlorine. A 5.25% solution of sodium hypochlorite requires approximately 7 ml of titrant. | ||
| 5.4.20 | Refer MSDS before neutralisation/ deactivation of any chemical for any special precaution or any adverse reaction. | |
| 5.4.21 | Any waste material that require disposal shall be handled in conformance with the respective state or central legislation i.e. Waste Management Act, Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, Bio-Medical Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules etc and other application legislation. | |
| 5.5 | Destruction of broken glassware’s : | |
| 5.5 1 | Broken glassware’s should be treated as potentially sharp & pointed and a physical hazard which can cause deep cuts on body if not handled properly. | |
| 5.5 2 | If broken glassware’s is clean, sweep up the pieces with broom or small brush and dust pan. | |
| 5.5 3 | Transfer broken glassware’s in the designated glass disposal container, e.g. puncture proof, double lined cardboard box. Do not allow the box to be full. It should be closed properly when it is 3/4th full and transfer the container directly to the scrap yard for disposal. | |
| 5.5 4 | Ensure that discarded glassware’s must not contain any hazardous waste for which it must be cleaned and thoroughly rinsed with water before disposal. Ensure that the contents in the glassware have been completely emptied or drained off in the waste container. | |
| 5.5 5 | If the glassware holds any chemicals when broken, flush the broken pieces of glassware’s with large quantities of water and then transfer in the designated glass disposal container. | |
| 5.5 6 | Label the container as “BROKEN GLASSWARE” in bold and paste it in such a way that it is readily visible to laboratory personnel. | |
| 5.5 7 | After closing the box with tape, transfer the container directly to the scrap yard for disposal. | |
| 5.6 | Destruction of routine waste: | |
| 5.6 1 | Collect metal waste separately and send it to the scrap yard for disposal. | |
| 5.6 2 | Collect electronic waste separately and send it to the scrap yard for disposal. | |
| 5.6 3 | Collect plastic waste separately and send it to the scrap yard for disposal. | |
| 5.6 4 | Collect paper waste separately in a dust bin and send it to the scrap yard for disposal. | |
- Definitions / Abbreviations :
- Definitions :
- Slurry: A thin free flowing paste of any leftover sample prepared with water or any suitable diluent.
- Disposal: The term refers to the act or process of destroying chemicals, chemical waste, containers, and other materials.
- Hazardous waste: Waste that is unwanted, unusable and dangerous or potentially harmful to our health or the environment.
- Harm: Damage to health or environment including the damage that can occur from loss of product quality or availability.
- Abbreviations :
| Abbreviation | Expansion |
| SOP | Standard Operating Procedure |
| QC | Quality Control |
| QA | Quality Assurance |
| MSDS | Material Safety Data Sheet |
| A. R. No. | Analytical Reference Number |
| No. | Number |
| e.g. | Example |
| ml | Millilitre |
*Note – Ready to use SOP available in “DOWNLOAD” Section.