If you've used pure solvent on an experiment, you can easily recycle them by distillation. The same is true for mixture containing 2 to 3 solvents especially if their boiling points are far apart from each other. You can use this recycled solvents later on for washing purposes etc. Halogenated reagents should be disposed of properly. All your laboratory wastes should be picked up by an official waste disposal authority.

Hi Balaji,it is always advantageous to collect recyclable materials like solvents separately and reutilize them provided it is technically possible and the costs of recycling are comparable to the cost of disposal. However not all solvents can be recycled.

Certain solvents may become corrosive, and can corrode metal containers so it is necessary to store them in proper and clearly labelled containers (e.g. plastic canisters). Containers should be tightly capped to avoid unnecessary exposure to toxic vapours and to prevent spills. Hot solvents must be cooled to room temperature before disposal.

Halogen containing and halogen free solvents should be collected in separate containers making its disposal less expensive and easier. Halogen free solvents should be checked whether they contain peroxides as they should be reduced in some cases. Oxidizers, Corrosives, Inorganics, Water reactives, Sulfur-containing solvents, or too much water should not be added to the container. Cyanide wastes must be placed in an appropriate waste bottle and the solution should be kept alkaline at all times. Toxic compounds in organic solvent can be hazardous especially if there is a breakage or spill, so it better to chemically eliminate or reduce the toxicity, if possible. And after reaching certain amounts, wastes should be collected by the university and transferred to companies for its proper disposal.

Finally, to dispose of waste properly, it is better to keep a record of all the major constituents of the containers. And also prepare an SOP for all the lab members.

I would like to know about removal. I cant keep them for long.

I am in agree with Jovale Vincent Tongco. Currently, you can not use these solvents for HPLC or chromatography in general because it requires high purity solvents. Nevertheless, you can use these distilled solvents for washing the glassware and the the wastes should be pick up by an official waste disposal authority.

Besides, from the point of view of green chemistry you need to consider the electricity and energy required for the distillation. In any case the wastes should be managed and recycled by specialist.

It is unfortunate, but in 2013 in most cases it is not worth recycling as, even HPLC grade or anhydrous solvents are cheaper and cheaper. Waste solvents have no use really and can be incinerated

@Laurent Bornaghi Sir please tell me about more on incineration of waste solvents

My understanding is that flammable solvents are used as fuel and the non flam. one are incinerated at high temperature.

http://www.wrfound.org.uk/articles/incineration.html

An interesting discussion on life cycle assessment approach to the analysis of solvent waste issues have been discussed in a publication see Green Chem., 2010, 12, 1826–1834. (DOI: 10.1039/c003666h)

Remember also that the choice of the solvent is also very important see Green Chem., 2012, 14, 1132 (DOI: 10.1039/c2gc16515e)