Whats in that “aqueous” waste?
One of the less rigorous definitions in the Radiation Safety Handbook is “aqueous,” as in “aqueous waste.” The definition says “Aqueous waste denotes any solution of which the primary constituent is water and any soluble organic and inorganic constituents, all present in forms and quantities that do not result in phase separation or precipitation.” What the definition does not say about the “soluble organic and inorganic constituents” is that the presence of even small amounts of hazardous or incompatible chemicals can turn that waste jug into an expensive problem. Most of the chemicals in your lab will fit one or another of the hazardous chemical definitions on the ORS web page. There are many chemicals we must not release to the sanitary sewer, and we ask that you carefully consider what you put into liquid waste containers and also describe the contents fully on the radioactive waste card. Three indicators of potential problems are phase separation, precipitation, and high or low pH
