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Methylene Chloride

⚠ Danger ☠
Methylene chloride (synonym: dichloromethane) is deemed a particularly hazardous substance (PHS) by EH&S and you need approval before using it. Throughout this SOP, you will see PHS where steps specific to particularly hazardous substances exist.

This chemical standard operating procedure (SOP) and the associated Safety Data Sheet (SDS) are for our safety. Read and understand both documents. If this is a paper copy, check for updated versions on the IsoLab website.


Process

Methylene chloride is used as part of the rock preparation procedure to clean polar organics from rock samples.


Hazards - SDS

GHS Health Hazard Pictogram GHS Irritant Hazard Pictogram

Causes skin irritation. Causes serious eye irritation. May cause drowsiness or dizziness. Suspected of causing cancer.


Protection - SDS

Hierarchy of Controls
The Hierarchy of Hazard Controls. While you should consider Elimination and Substitution, this SOP assumes the bottom three are directly applicable and described in this section.

Engineering Controls

Methylene chloride is to be used in one of the fume hoods in the 302 / 303 suite. Ensure the fume hood has proper air flow by checking the flow rate on the control panel and / or using a smoke match or wipe to visualize flow.

PHS - While the preferred fume hood is directly above the storage cabinet, any fume hood in the IsoLab suite is sufficient.

Administrative Controls

PHS - No specific administrative controls are required.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Wear a laboratory coat, eye protection, and Silver Shield gloves while working with methylene chloride.

PHS - Nitrile gloves DO NOT provide protection against methylene chloride. Wear Silver Shield gloves. These are located in 302B.


Handling - SDS

Keep container tightly closed when not in use.

PHS - Decontamination - Pour residual liquid into waste container. Wash glassware as per our cleaning laboratory glassware SOP.


Storage - SDS

Methylene chloride is stored in the flammables cabinet under the fume hood in 302B. Use MyChem, the UW EH&S chemical inventory database, for more lab-suite specific storage details.


Spills - SDS

Outside Fume Hood Spill - FUMES - Wear respiratory protection. Avoid breathing vapors, mist or gas. Ensure adequate ventilation. Remove all sources of ignition. Evacuate personnel to safe areas. Beware of vapors accumulating to form explosive concentrations. Vapors can accumulate in low areas.

PHS - Exposure:

Inside Fume Hood Spill - The fume hood should protect you from fumes. Contain the solution with absorbent materials from the spill kit and place in a suitable waste container.

If you need assistance or advice, use the IsoLab Emergency Contacts sheet.

Consult the EH&S Spill Poster and Exposure Poster


Waste - SDS

If you are cleaning up after a spill and have a bag of debris, ensure the bag is sealed and use multiple bags as needed. Complete an EH&S Hazardous Waste Label and adhere it to the bag. Here are instructions for how to label chemical waste containers. Labels are located in a drawer on the west wall of 303B near the door to the hallway.

Put all waste, solid or liquid, into a glass container. Options for waste containers can be found under the west sink in 303B. Complete an EH&S Hazardous Waste Label and adhere it to the bottle. Here are instructions for how to label chemical waste containers. Labels are located in a drawer on the west wall of 303B near the door to the hallway.

Place the properly labeled container in one of the gray tubs near the hallway door of 303B. Segregate from other waste containers as appropriate.

Consult our generalized Chemical Waste Disposal SOP.


Chemical SOP Signature Required Sticker
This sticker is placed on all chemical containers that are deemed particularly hazardous and require approval before use.

Training - PHS

Methylene chloride is deemed a particularly hazardous substance - PHS by EH&S and you need approval before using it. Complete the list of requirements below before using this chemical.

Prerequisites

  1. You must have completed Managing Laboratory Chemicals in the last three years. Login to check.
  2. Read and understand the SDS for Methylene chloride.
  3. Read, understand, and digitally sign this SOP.
  4. Contact your Principal Investigator (PI) AND the Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) indicating that you have completed all prerequisites and await approval.

Signature

I have read and understood the present SOP and, before starting work outlined in the present SOP, I will complete all required training.

Last updated: 2021-06-23 09:03:58