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Chemical Substitutes
This list suggests chemical substitutes for commonly used chemicals to promote a safer work environment. Consider
using the safer substitute if it works in your process:
Original Material
Substitute
Comments
Acetamide
Stearic acid
In phase change and freezing point depression.
Benzene
Alcohol and acetonitrile
No comment.
Benzoyl peroxide
Lauryl peroxide
When used as a polymer catalyst.
Butyl or petroleum- Super Brute Orange (Applied
containing
Research, Inc.)
cleaners
Non-caustic, non-butyl cleaner/degreaser. Water soluble,
emulsifies tough grease, soil, sludge, ink, etc. For use on floors,
machinery, etc., and is free rinsing.
Carbon
Tetrachloride
Carbon
Tetrachloride
Chloroform
Cyclohexane
In test for halide ions.
Isopropyl alcohol
Less toxic, better for environment.
Chromic acid
Dichloromethane
Kits also available for purification/isolation of DNA without
organic solvents (Promega Corp, Stratagene). StrataClean resin
for concentration of proteins.
Potassium hydroxide, sonic baths, Last resorts include: KOH/ethanol bath, acid bath or NoChromix.
or detergents (Alconox, PCC-54,
PCC-54 is good for cleaning pipettes and other lab equipment
Pierce BBS 35 or similar detergent). with hard-to-clean crevices and decontamination.
Chlorinated
High BTU non-chlorinated solvents. In vapor degreasing processes.
solvents (low BTU)
ChlorineDecontam (Electronic Space
containing solvents Products International ESPI)
Non-toxic, non-flammable, removes oils and greases, tars, dried
blood, distillation residues from most metals, plastics,
glassware, quartz or fabric.
Ethidium Bromide SYBR Safe, GelRed (in water only), Less mutagenic, less toxic, not a hazardous waste. Detection
Gel Freen, DNA stain gel
sensitivity comparable.
(Invitrogen Corporation, Phenix
Research)
Ethyl ether
Methyl t-butyl ether
Avoid forming explosive peroxides.
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde
Peracetic acid
"Formalternate" (Flinn Scientific),
or ethanol (ethyl alcohol)
In cleaning of kidney dialysis machines.
For storage of biological specimens.
Formalin
Fluorinert
see Formaldehyde
No comment.
Non-volatile, reusable pressurizing No comment.
fluid
Halogenated
solvents
Non-halogenated solvents or non- In parts washers or other solvent processes.
flammable biodegradable cleaners
Mercuric chloride Solutions such as 5-10% methylene Biocide use.
chloride, 1% formalin, 1N
hydrochloric acid, or sodium
hypochlorite
Mercuric chloride Eliminate catalyst and let reaction Reaction catalyst.
run longer. Mercury-free catalysts
such as CuSO4, Ti02, or K2SO4 can
be used in Kjedahl digests instead
of mixtures containing mercury
metals or salts.
Mercury
thermometers
Mercury
manometers
Phosphatecontaining
detergent
Phenol/chloroform
extractions,
acetone
precipitation
Protein gel stains
Scintillation
cocktails
(traditional with
solvents)
Sodium
dichromate
S-35
Sulfide ion
Sulfuric/chromic
acids
Toluene
Wood's metal
Red alcohol or mineral spirit
thermometers
Pressure transducers, electronic
pressure gauges or oil-based
manometers
RBS-35 detergent concentrate
If mercury thermometers must be used, those with Teflon
coatings should be considered.
No comment.
Permits long soaking and rinses free of residues, and can
decontaminate radioactivity, similar to PCC-54.
Stratagene, or kits also available
Non-toxic, non-flammable. Designed for extraction of restriction
from Agilent Genomics or Promega endonucleases. Concentrate proteins.
Corporation
ProtoBlue Safe (National
Diagnostics)
Biodegradable and safer cocktails
No comment.
Sodium hypochlorite (bleach)
No comment.
P-33
Beta emission, half-life of 25 days, Emax 0.25 MeV, specific
activity of 3000 Ci/mmol. Compatible with the latest protocols
for DNA Cycle Sequencing. No volatile components to
contaminate work areas. Can reduce times for autoradiography
with no effect on band resolution.
Hydroxide ion
Specialty detergents
In analysis of heavy metals.
No comment.
Simple alcohols and ketones
Onion's Fusible alloy
No comment.
No comment.
No comment.
Xylene
Histo-Clear (National Diagnostics)
or limonene-based extract
For histology uses.