Gel mix, acrylamide/bis, Ammonium persulfate, etc disposal - (Apr/07/2009 )

Hi

I'm pretty new in working with protein. So sorry if all these questions seem redundant. I've tried searching the forum, but I couldn't get an exact answer. I would like to know the proper ways to dispose all things that we work with SDS-PAGE.

Here some example of situation that might have happened:

1. During gel preparation, the gel mix is leaking out from the casting because the glass plate is not properly 'glued' together. The spill is wiped out using paper towel, so where should the paper towel go?

2. Where should pipet (5ml) used to pipet acrylamide/bis (30%) solution go?

3. During acrylamide/bis transfer, a drop falls on the table. If it is wiped out using paper towel, where should paper towel go?

4. Where should we dispose extra gel mix, acrylamide/bis, ammonium persulfate, TEMED, SDS?

Maybe I'm too cautious about this, but any help would be appreciated.

Thanks a bunch!

A Material Safety Data Sheet should always be looked at for any chemical you are working with, especially if it is unfamiliar. Ideally this will tell you how to dispose of the chemical, regulations for which vary around the world. As you are new to gel work, go and read the MSDS for the chemicals you listed and as experienced people what to do with the waste if you can't find the info you need. Indeed, perhaps you should also look at ones for some common chemicals as well, just to see how dangerous some of the chemicals routinely handled in the lab are.

Un-polymerised acrylamide is a neuro-toxin and should be disposed of according to local regulations. One of the safest ways of getting rid of acrylamide is to polymerise it.