Hi All,

Can I have some advice from you Coshh experts please,

I have recently started a new roll as a QSHE coordinator, and during a recent risk assessment I have found an old qurantine area with some chemicals that are out of date and require immediate disposal. This area is located in a stand alone building in the delivery yard, and is used to store old or slow moving stock.

My question is - There are 2 x 25kg drums of Sodium Selonite stored right next to 4 x 25 liter Betain Hydrochloric Acid. I am currently trying to source the MSDS sheets from the chemical suppliers, but in the mean time, can someone advise me on better storage while I wait for the disposal company to set up our account.

Why handle them yourself if they are protected just get in the disposal comapny as you are doing.
http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927277
http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9923080

I queried what the substances are because the OP quotes the quantity of Betain Hydrochloric acid as a volume, and you don't normally measure solids by volume - so I am wondering if there is an error in identifying the chemical.

for information, Betaine HCL is a solid (white crystal) that is used by carp anglers (such as myself) as a feed stimulant in their bait :)

Alan

With the confusion on the substance identity, I would recommend basing your work on the CAS Number, which would be unequivocal and would allow much easier sourcing of the SDSs.
Once you have this information, you can get the SDSs directly from chemical suppliers websites, eg Sigma Aldrich. Feel free to pm me, I am a PhD chemist, so this area is my strongest in terms of my H&S knowledge.
In particular, if the first material was Sodium SELENITE, then that is a highly toxic salt and will need a speciallist waster contractor.
As people have said before though, if containment is not an issue, don't make a problem and wait for the contractor. Good luck

:)

Following a bit of a Google it seems that both Betaine HCL and Sodium selenite are both food supplements available from a health food shop near you.
Just because you can buy these items and they are available over the counter does not mean that they are safe in a particular if they are in bulk. We really need more information before we can make a judgement and provide any sort of sensible advice.
1. Are they food supplements?
2. Are there any CAS or other recognised reference numbers?
3. What quantities are the materials in?
4. Are they powders/liquids/fine dusts or solid ingots?
Unless we have that sort of info we can’t add much to the current level of speculation.

If sodium selenite comes in contact with acid it can create a toxic gas. My advise would therefore be to segregate these substances. However, since you have recently discovered that waste contractors are due in next week; I would keep a watchful eye on them for any deterioration of the containers - but wait for the waste contractors to take them away.

Selenium compounds tend to be. However, some people graduated to tellurium compounds, which are legendary. (think of rotten eggs, multiplied by 1000). If your body should absorb some selenium or tellurium compound, no-one will come near you while your body metabolises it and eliminates it.

Yes it is toxic but it is also a necessary trace element, which is why it is included as a food supplement. As to whether it is needed as such is a matter of controversy like the so called Betain-HCl which is meant to stimulate acid production in the stomach.
As for toxic materials how about thallium, as recommended by the KGB assassination department?