Purpose To eliminate the generation of lecture bottles of unknown contents and those with known contents which cannot be economically disposed. If this is not possible, plan to use all the bottle contents or develop procedures to destroy any hazardous constituents remaining. Comply with all safety recommendations from the supplier of the the bottle and from the supplier of the regulator or manual control. Insure that any fixtures attached to the lecture bottle comply with the manufacturers instructions Insure that purging procedures are complied with if applicable When the lecture bottle is empty, mark it as such with an indelible marker.
Some bottles are hazardous even when empty.
DO NOT store unneeded lecture bottles of hazardous gases for some possible future use. Reason Disposal of hazardous lecture bottles is one of the most difficult, expensive waste management operations. Few suppliers are willing to take back their cylinders. Lecture bottles with unknown contents can cost thousands of dollars to dispose. Old bottles can also pose a significant hazard to both lab personnel and others.