Environmental Health and Safety

With appropriate dilution (100 times the volume), there are certain organic and inorganic compounds that can be properly disposed of in the sanitary sewer system in quantities of approximately 100 grams at a time. As a general rule, water-soluble organic compounds with a boiling point <50o C should not be disposed of in the sanitary sewer system. The compounds identified below are water soluble to at least 3% and present a low toxicity hazard. The organic compounds listed on the following pages are readily biodegradable. Some chemicals suitable for drain disposal are:

Organic Chemicals

Alcohols

Alkanols with less than 5 carbon atoms
t-Amyl alcohol
Alkanediols with less than 8 carbon atoms
Glycerol
Sugars and sugar alcohols
Alkoxyalkanols with less than 7 carbon atoms
n-C4H9OCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH
2-Chloroethanol

Aldehydes

Aliphatic aldehydes with less than 5 carbon atoms

Amides

RCONH2 and RCONHR with less than 5 carbon atoms
RCONR2 with less than 11 carbon atoms

Amines

Aliphatic amines with less than 7 carbon atoms Aliphatic diamines with less than 7 carbon atoms Benzylamine Pyridine

Carboxylic Acids

Alkanoic acids with less than 6 carbon atoms *
Alkanedioic acids with less than 6 carbon atoms
Hydroxyalkanoic acids with less than 6 carbon atoms
Aminoalkanoic acids with less than 7 carbon atoms
Ammonium, sodium, and potassium salts of the above acid classes with less than 21 carbon atoms Chloroalkanoic acids with less than 4 carbon atoms

Esters

Esters with less than 5 carbon atoms Isopropyl acetate

Those with disagreeable odor (i.e. dimethylamine, 1,4-butanediamine, butyric and valeric acids) should be neutralized and the resulting salts disposed of in a sanitary sewer drain with at least 1000 volumes of water.

Ketones

Ketones with less than 6 carbon atoms

Nitriles

Acetonitrile
Propionitrile

Sulfonic Acids

Sodium or potassium salts of most are acceptable

Inorganic Compounds

Compounds of any ions listed below which are strongly acidic or basic should be neutralized before being disposed of in a sanitary sewer drain.