Assuming that keeping the nitric and acetic acids together isn’t in play, I don’t think right/wrong is the most useful frame. This sort of guidance shouldn’t
just be technically correct, it should also be easy for researchers to understand, remember, and apply. When you’re trying to optimize for multiple parameters in that way, it’s not surprising that you’ll find many viable solutions.
Chris
________________________________
Christopher M. Kolodziej, Ph.D. Chemical Hygiene Officer
My working hours may not be your working hours. Please do not feel obligated to reply outside of your normal work schedule.
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
On Behalf Of Katie Woolard Sent: Thursday, February 29, 2024 8:55 AM To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Storing ACS-grade acetic acid with ACS grade hydrochloric acid
What I do for labs like this is have them store the acetic acid in one secondary container and the hydrochloric acid in a different one, but they can both stay in the same
corrosives/acid cabinet. That way, if there is a spill or a bottle breaks, they are separated to minimize contact and are also in compatible storage containers.
I'm interested to hear what others think and if I'm doing it wrong, I definitely want to fix it! I'm still relatively new to my position and I'm always looking for ways
to improve.
The chemical compatibility charts I've reviewed indicate inorganic acids should be stored separately from organic acids. This makes sense if a lab is storing a variety
of both types. We all know what happens with nitric acid and organic acids..
However, we're renovating a geology lab that uses mostly hydrochloric acid and occasionally uses acetic acid, both ACS grade (which are further diluted before using
to digest rock or soil samples). I have reviewed both Sigma and Fisher SDS's for these two materials, and it does not seem to me that storing several 500mL-1 Liter bottles of each together in a corrosives cabinet would be incompatible storage or create a
safety risk. Storing them with caustics, permanganates, oxidizing acids, metals--that would be a concern, but this lab doesn't use any of these incompatible reagents.
Thoughts? Am I missing something?
Many thanks as always-
Margaret
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Margaret A. Rakas, Ph.D.
Lab Safety & Compliance Director
Clark Science Center
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