The table below lists some possible alternatives to chemicals routinely used in the laboratory. The alternatives represent less toxic or non-hazardous materials that will help in reducing hazardous waste generation.
ORIGINAL MATERIAL | SUBSTITUTE | COMMENTS |
Acetamide | Stearic Acid | In phase change and freezing point depression |
Benzene | Alcohol | |
Benzoyl peroxide | Lauryl peroxide | When used as a polymer catalyst |
Carbon tetrachloride | Cyclohexane | In test for halide ions |
Chromic Acid Cleaning Solutions | Alconox, Micro, Pierce RBS-35, or similar detergents | In glassware cleaning |
Formaldehyde | Peracetic Acid | In cleaning of kidney dialysis machines |
Formaldehyde | “Formalternate” (Flinn Scientific) or Ethanol | For storage of biological specimens |
Formalin | See Formaldehyde | |
Halogenated Solvents | Non-halogenated solvents | In parts washers or other solvent processes |
Mercuric chloride reagent | Amitrole (Kepro Circuit Systems) | Circuit board etching |
Mercury salts | Mercury free catalysts (e.g. CuSO4TiO2K2SO4) | Kjeldahl digests |
Mercury Thermometers | Mineral spirit filled, stainless steel, bimetal, digital | |
Mercuric chloride (biocide) | 5-10% Methylene chloride, 1% formalin, 1 N hydrochloric acid, Sodium azide, Sodium hypochlorite | |
Sodium Dichromate | Sodium hypochlorite | |
Sulfide ion | Hydroxide ion | In analysis of heavy metals |
Wood’s metal | Onion’s fusible alloy | |
Xylene or Toluene | Simple alcohols and ketones | |
Xylene or Toluene scintillation cocktails | Non-hazardous proprietary liquid scintillation cocktails | In radioactive tracer studies |