Chemical Hygiene Plan - Queensborough Community College ...

For Hydrofluoric acid (HF) spills:
• Use Calcium carbonate or Calcium bicarbonate to tightly bind the fluoride ion.
For liquid base spills:
For oil spills:
• Use citric acid to lower the pH sufficiently for drain disposal. Commercial base
neutralizers are also available.
• Use ground up corn cobs, vermiculite, or absorbent clay (kitty litter).
For most aqueous solutions:
• Use ground corn cobs
For most organic liquid spills:
• Use ground corn cobs.
For oxidizing liquids:
• Use absorbent clay, vermiculite, or some other nonreactive absorbent material. Do
not use paper towels. [Note: Most nitrate solutions will not oxidize sufficiently for
this requirement.]
For mercury spills:
• Do not dispose of mercury or mercury contaminated spill debris in the regular trash or
down the drain. [Never pour laboratory chemicals down the drain.]
• There are no absorbent materials available for mercury. Physical removal processes
are best for removing and collecting mercury.
• If you need help collecting Mercury from a spill, contact your EHS Office. [Note:
While powdered sulfur will help reduce mercury vapors, the sulfur greatly
complicates the spill cleanup.]
12.13 Spill Kits
While commercial spill kits are available from a number of safety supply vendors, laboratory
personnel can assemble their own spill kits to clean up chemicals specific to their laboratory.
Whether commercially purchased or made in-house, all laboratories must obtain a spill kit for
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