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Chemical Storage

Developing safe storage practices for laboratory chemicals is not always easy and often requires a considerable amount of thought and planning. Your ability to develop a safe storage system will depend on your knowledge of chemicals or your ability to find information on the hazards associated with materials you have.

The goal of your storage system should be to separate materials according to chemical compatibility and hazard class. You will need to develop a segregation scheme to fit your specific needs; but, do not store chemicals alphabetically until you have them properly segregated.

Begin safe storage practices by developing a chemical inventory which can be easily updated annually. The list should include the chemical name, amount, and date of purchase if known.

Use the following broad hazard classes as a guide for segregating your hazardous chemicals. Each hazard class should be stored in a separate shelving unit or on a separate shelf. Storing solids above and liquids below is a good practice.
  1. Flammable and Combustible liquids - e.g. Acetone, Xylene, Toluene, Methanol
  2. Non-flammable solvents - e.g. Chloroform, Methylene chloride
  3. Oxidizing Acids - e.g. Perchloric, Nitric, concentrated Sulfuric, Bromic, Hypochlorous
  4. Mineral Acids - e.g. Hydrochloric, dilute Sulfuric, Phosphoric
  5. Organic Acids - e.g. Acetic, Butyric, Formic
  6. Bases - e.g. Ammonia, Ammonium hydroxide, Sodium hydroxide
  7. Oxidizers - e.g. Peroxides, Chlorates, Perchlorates, Nitrates, Permanganates. Oxidizers should not be stored on a wooden shelf since they will react with organic material. Store them on a metal (preferably corrosion resistant) shelf.
  8. Reducers - e.g. Sulfides, Hydrazines, Amines
  9. Poisonous metals - e.g. non-oxidizing/non-reacting compounds of Chromium, Arsenic, Copper, Mercury, Lead
  10. Poisonous organic reagents - e.g. Ethidium bromide, Phenol
  11. Pesticides - segregate fertilizers from insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc.
  12. Water/Air reactives - e.g. Acetyl Chloride, Sodium metal, Potassium metal, Phosphorus [red & white]
  13. Compressed gases - e.g. Nitrogen, Hydrogen, Helium. All cylinders should be secured in an upright position. Segregate flammable from oxidizing gases.
Combined storage of different hazard classes may be acceptable if they are chemically compatible, for example:
  1. Flammmables and Non-flammables
  2. Poisonous metals, Poisonous organic reagents, and Pesticides
As stated earlier, please consult each chemical's MSDS for incompatibilities or contact EHS.

The following is a list of chemicals commonly used in the laboratory which are considered non-hazardous. We recommend separating non-hazardous and hazardous materials.

Organic Chemicals
Sugars and sugar alcohols
Starch
Naturally occurring alpha-amino acids and salts
Citric acid and salts: Na, K, Mg, Ca, NH4
Lactic acid and salts: Na, K, Mg, Ca, NH4
Inorganic Chemicals
Sulfates: Na, K, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, NH4
Phosphates: Na, K, Mg, Ca, Sr, NH4
Carbonates: Na, K, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, NH4
Oxides: B, Mg, Ca, Sr, Al, Si, Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn
Chlorides: Na, K, Mg
Fluorides: Ca
Borates: Na, K, Mg, Ca
Alum
Alumina
Silica gel

Chemicals in storage and in use should be regularly monitored for proper labeling and conditions. Labels which are fading, falling off, or deteriorating should be replaced. If abbreviations are used, they should clearly identify the contents of the container and hazards associated with use; i.e. HgCl2/Poison, HCl/Corrosive, MeOH/Flammable, Nonhazardous Buffer, etc. Improperly or unlabeled chemicals make disposal difficult and may create a hazard.

Old, outdated, and waste chemicals should not be stored. These materials should be disposed of by following the EHS Hazardous Materials Disposal Procedures.