Chemical Lifecycle Stewardship at Berkeley Lab ensures the responsible management of
hazardous chemicals and gases entrusted to one's care - from acquisition to disposal
Chemical Acquisition/Purchasing
1: Before you purchase a chemical or gas
Before you purchase, obtain the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and make sure the hazard of the chemical/gas is covered under an appropriate WPC activity. You need to provide the WPC Activity ID if you’re purchasing a Risk Level 3 chemical/gas hazard such as pyrophorics or toxic gases.
Pre-purchase planning (Video Overview) | (Purchasing Checklist)
2: How to purchase or acquire a chemical
All hazardous chemicals, including compressed or liquefied gas cylinders, prior to their arrival onsite, must go through screening and approval by EHS and/or Security and Emergency Services. This review/approval process is built-in to CMS after: a) you indicate you’re purchasing a hazardous chemical in FMS if purchase is made in FMS, or b) you add a chemical directly in CMS before you acquire it outside of FMS (such as chemicals sent directly to you through collaborators).
How to purchase gases or hazardous chemicals using FMS eBuy: (Video) | (PDF Step-by-step)
What to do if you’re acquiring a chemical outside of FMS (PDF Step-by-step) | (Enter chemical in CMS)
Related Resources
CMS Inventory Guide: This guide outlines criterial for hazardous and reportable chemicals that require tracking in CMS, and must follow the processes outlined above
Chemical acquisition guide: This guide provides a high level summary of acquiring hazardous chemicals through various routes
For more information about safer alternatives, see Chemical Alternatives and Substitution Resources
New Chemical Receiving Process
3. Receiving your chemicals
A: Chemical packages that are received and processed by the CCRF
Most hazardous chemical packages received at the Lab are processed at the Lab's Central Chemical Receiving Facility (CCRF). CCRF staff verify and enter container information in CMS, apply RFID tags, and add a green (fully processed, no further actions needed) or rectangle orange sticker (with instructions for further actions needed by the end user) to the package.
Overview of chemical receiving process | (Video)
B: Chemical packages that are not processed by the CCRF
If your hazardous chemical package does not have an orange or green sticker, it means it was not processed by the CCRF. You, as the end user of the chemical, are responsible for ensuring the chemical is RFID tagged and “received” in CMS.
You need to ( Add RFID tag ) | (“Receive” the chemical in CMS)
CCRF Contact Information:
Call us at (510) 486-4618. We can be reached during our normal operating hours M-F between 8am and 12pm.
Fill out a field support form to get help, ask questions, report an issue, or provide feedback.
Overview of Managing Your Chemicals
4. Managing Your Chemicals
As chemical requesters and users, we all share the responsibility to ensure hazardous chemicals and gases are properly acquired and managed throughout their lifecycle
Maintaining accurate inventory in the Lab’s CMS system is key to safety and compliance. Tutorial videos are available on how to edit containers, transfer ownership, mark containers as disposed/used up, and perform chemical inventory reconciliation. Below you will find additional information on the required aspects of managing your chemical inventory.
Proper Management of Chemicals
Chemical Storage and Segregation
- Store hazardous chemicals in proper storage areas, such as flammable and corrosive storage cabinets
These storage areas are designed to minimize the consequences of an off-normal event such as a fire or broken/leaking container.
- Ensure incompatible materials within each storage area are adequately segregated to prevent inadvertent mixing. Nitric acid requires its own dedicated secondary containment and must be segregated from all other acids.
If you are a chemical user, it is important to plan for safe storage prior to acquiring hazardous chemicals and to monitor storage areas for issues and signs of incompatibility such as rust or chemical residues. Report these warning signs to a responsible person like the chemical owner, or your Division Safety Coordinator.
Related Resources
Chemical Storage website: Storage basics, requirements, and resources such as printable segregation posters.
Chemical Inventory
Having an accurate site-wide chemical inventory is crucial for safety and science. At LBNL, hazardous chemicals and gases are tracked in the CMS database.
Learn more about the functionalities and features of CMS
The chemical owner (usually a PI or technical area supervisor) is ultimately responsible and accountable for maintaining an accurate inventory, which means ensuring all hazardous materials are tracked accurately in CMS and disposed in CMS when the materials have been used up, disposed, or taken off-site. Facilitating proper storage and mitigation of hazards such as time-sensitive chemical management are also key responsibilities.
For more details, refer to the Chemical Owner Responsibilities page
Samples and Secondary Containers (a.k.a. splits or child containers)
Research samples and secondary containers of hazardous materials (also known as splits or child containers) are a necessary aspect of research activities at Berkeley Lab, but have resulted in substantial challenges when not labeled and managed properly. The following requirements support hazard communication and chemical lifecycle stewardship:
Identify non-hazardous samples/splits with content identification, at minimum
Hazardous samples/splits require content identification and hazards (words, pictures, symbols, etc.)
Time-sensitive samples/splits have the same requirements as their primary containers (RFID tagging, CMS tracking, and assessment/testing)
Use compatible materials, and more durable materials for longer term storage
Do not keep samples/splits for longer than necessary - space is a premium!
Samples must be properly disposed when they are no longer needed or prior to leaving LBNL unless long term storage arrangements are made
Supporting Resources:
Peroxide-Forming Organic Solvents
Peroxide-forming organic solvents are commonly used in the laboratory for a wide variety of purposes. It is important to properly manage these chemicals to prevent incidents and high disposal costs. Here are some strategies you can use keep your peroxide-forming organic solvents from becoming a problem for you and your Division.
Purchase Wisely
Unused peroxide-forming solvents become very difficult to dispose if their peroxide concentration reaches 20ppm or greater. The longer you keep a container, the more likely it is to exceed that threshold.
Purchase only what you expect to use in the next 3-12 months, especially if you are using a Class A peroxide-forming chemical such as isopropyl ether.
Purchase containers with inhibitor to keep peroxide levels low for as long as possible. Note that inhibitors become depleted over time, so it's still important not to over-buy.
If you're not sure if the chemical will work for you, borrow a small amount from another group before committing to purchasing your own container.
Track Your Inventory
Enter your peroxide-forming organic chemicals into CMS as soon as you receive them.
Attach a peroxide-forming chemical label.
Fill out the date received and testing interval on the peroxide-forming chemical label immediately.
With accurate records in CMS, the chemical owner will receive reminders about peroxide testing.
Test Frequently
The more often you test your solvent, the more likely you are to notice the peroxide levels creeping up before they get too high.
Test your solvents at least as often as required for their hazard class.
If a container is uninhibited or getting old, test more frequently.
Only use peroxide test strips that are not expired. Expired test strips give false negative results! Request peroxide test strips from EHS.
See the Peroxide Testing Quick Guide
See a video tutorial for how to use the EHS-provided test strips.
Intervene Early
There are products that can actively and continuously reduce peroxides in your container, as well as purification techniques that can be used to remove peroxides. These should be employed early to keep your container as close to peroxide-free as possible for its entire lifetime.
Requirements:
Before using one of the methods below, make sure the following requirements are met.
The container passes visual pre-inspection.
The container is not a hazardous waste or intended for immediate disposal.
The peroxide concentration is less than 100ppm. Containers with greater than 100ppm peroxides are not safe to handle and use.
You are adequately trained and authorized to perform this work. You are on an Active WPC Activity that authorizes you to work with peroxide-forming organic chemicals and to perform the specific procedure you have chosen to use; You have taken all required online safety training; You have received specific on-the-job training for the work; You are following the controls outlined in your WPC Activity.
You have researched the method to ensure there will be no chemical compatibility issues or other safety concerns. Consult with the chemical safety team if you need assistance.
Methods:
Activated basic alumina(1): Up to 700 mL of solvent are passed through a 2 x 33 cm column filled with ~80 g of 80-mesh basic activated alumina. Test for peroxides and repeat this process if necessary to reach an acceptable peroxide concentration. For low levels of peroxides ( < 10 ppm) a short plug of basic activated alumina may be sufficient. This method is quite advantageous as it is rapid, does not introduce moisture or peroxide decomposition products, and uses readily available lab equipment. The activated alumina column should be disposed of with care, as some peroxides may remain unchanged after adsorption. A saturated solution of ferrous sulfate or potassium iodide may be passed through the alumina column to ensure that all adsorbed peroxides are completely destroyed.2
Aqueous sodium metabisulfite(2): This method is appropriate for water-insoluble organic solvents. The solvent is washed with a freshly prepared dilute aqueous solution of sodium metabisulfite (Na2S2O5, 5%), 10:1 v/v. Use care to prevent pressure buildup (no closed containers), particularly with low-boiling point solvents like ethyl ether, as an appreciable temperature increase may result upon mixing (~10 degrees F). Separate the organic phase. The organic phase can be dried over a suitable drying agent, if desired.
Ferrous sulfate solution(3,4): This method is appropriate for water-insoluble organic solvents. A saturated solution of ferrous sulfate is freshly prepared by mixing 120 g ferrous sulfate (the heptahydrate, FeSO4 • 7H2O is commonly used), 12 mL concentrated sulfuric acid, and 220 mL distilled water. The solvent is extracted with the ferrous sulfate solution several times until peroxides are no longer detected. This method is generally quite effective and fast. The organic layer is separated, washed with water twice, then dried over sodium or magnesium sulfate.
Indicating molecular sieves5: Indicating molecular sieves (blue-colored) have been reported to reduce peroxide concentration to acceptable levels in a variety of peroxidizable organic solvents. This method is convenient, dries the solvent, and does not introduce contamination or byproducts. However, this method may be less effective than other techniques, and peroxide removal is generally quite slow at room temperature. Refluxing the solvent over indicating molecular sieves substantially decreases peroxide removal time.
Commercial products for peroxide-forming chemicals6: Commercial products are available for continuous removal of peroxides in peroxide-forming chemicals. These products can be added directly to the original manufacturer’s container to prevent formation of peroxides. Chemical owners may wish to purchase these products for use in their labs.
References:
(1) Dasler, W. and Bauer, C. D.; “Removal of Peroxides from Organic Solvents” Ind. and Eng. Chem. 1946,18, 52-54.
(2) Hamstead, A.C.; “Destroying peroxides of isopropyl ether” Ind. Eng. Chem. 1964, 56, 37-42.
(3) Mifafzal, G. A. and Baumgarten, H. E.; “Control of Peroxidizable Compounds: An Addendum” J. Chem. Ed. 1988, 65, A226-A229.
(4) Jackson, H. L. et. al; “Control of Peroxidizable Compounds” J. Chem. Ed. 1970, 47, A175.
(5) Burfield, D. R.; “Deperoxidation of Ethers. A Novel Application of Self-Indicating Molecular Sieves” J. Org. Chem. 1982, 47, 3821.
(6) “XPell™ indicating pellets for peroxides prevention, CE for organic solvents” by XploSafe (Part Number 3002) is available directly through their website, as well as from Sigma (Z683299-1EA), Amazon, etc.
(7) Perrin, D. D., W. L. F. Armarego, and Dawn R. Perrin. Purification of Laboratory Chemicals. Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1980.
(8) National Research Council. 1995. Prudent Practices in the Laboratory: Handling and Disposal of Chemicals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/4911. Refer to Section 7.D.2.5: “Organic Peroxides and Hydroperoxides.”
(9) Kelly, R. J.; “Review of Safety Guidelines for Peroxidizable Organic Chemicals” Chem. Health and Safety 1996, September/October, 28-36.
Additional Time-Sensitive Chemicals
There are a number of additional time-sensitive chemicals used in the laboratory for a wide variety of purposes. It is important to properly manage these chemicals to prevent incidents and high disposal costs.
Purchase Wisely
Unused time-sensitive chemicals become very difficult to dispose if they are not properly managed. The longer you keep a container, the more likely it is to develop unsafe conditions and exceed specifications for waste acceptance such as inhibitor concentration, age/expiration date, or visual appearance.
Purchase only what you expect to use in the next 3-12 months, especially if you are using monomers such as styrene, inorganic peroxide-forming chemicals: potassium metal, or explosive-when-dry chemicals such as ethyl diazoacetate.
For monomers, purchase containers with inhibitor to keep peroxide levels low for as long as possible. Note that inhibitors become depleted over time, so it's still important not to over-buy.
If you're not sure if the chemical will work for you, borrow a small amount from another group before committing to purchasing your own container.
Track Your Inventory
Enter your time-sensitive chemicals into CMS as soon as you receive them.
Attach a time-sensitive chemical label.
Fill out the date received and assessment interval on the time-sensitive chemical label immediately.
Record the date opened and assessment results in CMS. It is recommended to also record this info on the label.
With accurate records in CMS, the chemical owner will receive reminders about assessments/testing.
Assess Chemicals at Least Annually
Each class of time-sensitive chemicals has unique assessment criteria. Each container must be visually inspected and assessed at least annually.
Assess containers at least as often as required for their hazard class.
If a container is uninhibited or getting old, assess more frequently.
Refer to Work Process P.1 Additional Time-Sensitive Chemicals for the detailed policy of the labeling, assessment and handling of four categories of time-sensitive chemicals: unstable/self-reactive with production of gaseous products; hazardous polymerization; explosive when dry; and time-sensitive gases.
Transitioning Chemical Inventories to New Owners
What do you do with your chemicals and samples when you leave the Lab or change positions?
Chemical owners and users have responsibilities for the safety of all involved. Historically, when a chemical owner left the Lab, responsibilities for either disposing of or transferring their chemicals to a new owner were not well defined. This resulted in a number of unsafe conditions: expired time-sensitive chemicals, new owners without awareness of the high-hazard chemicals transferred to them, and gradual accumulation of chemicals that are neither used nor disposed as waste. Changes to policy and procedures were made to address these "legacy" chemical issues and to support effective chemical lifecycle stewardship. Learn more about the new policy here.
Chemical Inventory Reconciliation - New RFID Scanning Technology
New RFID scanning technology and procedures are now available for faster and easier chemical inventory reconciliation, which is performed regularly to ensure the physical hazardous/reportable chemical and gas inventory in a room matches what's in the CMS inventory.
A site-wide wall-to-wall inventory reconciliation using RFID scanning has started as of August 2023. See the site-wide rollout overview for details. After reconciliation, it is the responsibility of chemical owners and users to maintain an accurate inventory until the next cycle (at least once every two years).
Chemical users will be trained on the new equipment and reconciliation App over the remainder of the year. Old CMS barcodes are no longer required and should not be used.
Browse resources and check out the video below if you'd like a preview!
RFID Reconciliation Resources:
RFID Inventory Reconciliation Guide (New!)
RFID App Guide (New!)
Request to Borrow an RFID Reader/Scanner (New!): Check-Out Form / Check-In Form
RFID Reader/Scanner Initial Setup (New!)
Additional RFID Resources:
How to set up static RFID tag / multi-inventory datasheet inventory management
RFID Feedback Form (i.e. adhesion issues)
(NEW Video!) Overview of Scanning RFID Tags for Chemical Inventory Reconciliation:
Chemical Container and RFID Tag Disposal
When you dispose of a chemical container from your lab, you must also remove it from CMS!
RFID tags should be removed from empty containers and collected in an RFID-blocking pouch, or cut in half with scissors to destroy the signal and discard in the general trash. These methods prevent the signal from being picked up by RFID scanners for containers that are no longer in storage/use. Please request RFID-blocking disposal pouches from the RFID tag request form and follow the printed instructions.
Leave RFID tags on if you are disposing of a primary manufacturer's container. This allows the hazardous container to be tracked until it leaves our site.
RFID tag recycling is not currently available.
Contact your Waste Generator Assistant for guidance or assistance with hazardous chemical waste.
Waste Resources:
Peroxide-forming chemical verification form
RFID Field Guide - Section 4: RFID Tag Removal and Disposal