Spill Kits and Spill Clean Up Procedures

All labs (or lab suites) shall have a spill kit which is appropriate for the type of materials used in the lab. Typical spill kits contain sorbent materials for acids, bases, and solvents. Spill kits for specific materials are also available, such as for mercury or hydrofluoric acid.
Small scale inexpensive spill kits can be purchased from any number of sources such as VWR and Lab Safety supply.
Always use appropriate personal protective equipment when cleaning up a spill: make sure that gloves are chemical- appropriate and heavy enough to protect against physical hazards.
Do not attempt to clean up a spill if you feel unqualified to do so. If the nature of the spill is such that respiratory protection is needed, evacuate the lab, and call EHS at 404-216-5237.
Always dispose of used sorbents as hazardous waste by calling GT EHS Hazardous Waste at 404-894-6224. DO NOT DISPOSE of spilled hazardous materials in the regular trash.
Here is more information about being prepared to deal with spills and what should go in your lab’s spill kit
Generally, the sorbent material is applied to the spill from the outer edge to the center in order to prevent spreading the spilled material. This applies whether you are using dry pourable sorbents such as clay litter, or using spill pillows or paper towels. Clean up the sorbets by working from the exterior to the interior of the spill in a circular pattern, not back and forth in a grid pattern as this will spread the spill.

Chemical Spilled	Clean-Up Procedures
Acids, organic	Apply sodium bicarbonate. Adsorb with spill pillow or vermiculite.
Acids, inorganic	Apply sodium bicarbonate/calcium oxide or sodium carbonate/calcium oxide. Adsorb with spill pillow or vermiculite. NOTE: Hydrofluoric acid is an exception to the general practice, see below.
Acid Chlorides	Do not use water. Absorb with sand or sodium bicarbonate.
Aldehydes	Absorb with spill pillow or vermiculite.
Aliphatic Amines	Apply sodium bisulfite. Adsorb with spill pillow or vermiculite.
Aromatic Amines	Absorb with spill pillow or vermiculite. Avoid skin contact or inhalation.
Aromatic Halogenated Amines	Absorb with spill pillow or vermiculite. Avoid skin contact or inhalation.
Azides	Absorb with spill pillow or vermiculite. Neutralize with 10% ceric ammonium nitrate solution.
Bases (caustic alkalis)	Neutralize with acid, citric acid, or commercial chemical neutralizers. Absorb with spill pillow or vermiculite.
Carbon Disulfide	Absorb with spill pillow or vermiculite.
Chlorohydrins	Absorb with spill pillow or vermiculite. Avoid skin contact or inhalation.
Cyanides	Cover solids with damp paper towel and push onto dust pan or use a HEPA filter vacuum to collect the solids. Absorb liquids with spill pillow or vermiculite.
Halides, organic or inorganic	Apply sodium bicarbonate.
Halogenated Hydrocarbons	Absorb with spill pillows or vermiculite.
Hydrazine	Avoid organic matter. Apply "slaked lime". Adsorb with spill pillow or vermiculite.
Hydrofluoric Acid	Apply calcium carbonate (limestone) or lime (calcium oxide) rather than sodium bicarbonate. The use of sodium bicarbonate will lead to the formation of sodium fluoride, which is considerably more toxic than calcium fluoride. Be careful in the use of spill pillows used to absorb the acid. Some pillows contain silicates which are incompatible with hydrofluoric acid.
Inorganic Salt Solutions	Apply soda ash
Mercaptans/Organic Sulfides	Neutralize with calcium hypochlorite solution. Absorb with spill pillow or vermiculite.
Nitriles	Sweep up solids. Absorb liquids with spill pillows or vermiculite.
Nanoparticles	Pick up particles with a HEPA or ULPA filtered vacuum.
Nitro compounds Organic Nitriles	Absorb with spill pillow or vermiculite. Avoid skin contact or inhalation.
Oxidizing Agents	Apply sodium bisulfite.
Peroxides	Absorb with spill pillow or vermiculite.
Phosphates, organic and related	Absorb with spill pillow or vermiculite.
Reducing Substances	Apply soda ash or sodium bicarbonate.

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