Chemical Lab Packing Services

Chemical Compatibility Prevents Dangerous Reactions

Incompatible chemicals packed together can react violently during storage or transportation, causing container ruptures, fires, or toxic gas releases. Common dangerous combinations include:

• Acids + Bases: Violent exothermic reactions, heat generation, container failure
• Oxidizers + Flammables: Spontaneous combustion, fires, explosions
• Water-Reactive Materials + Moisture: Hydrogen gas generation, fires
• Cyanides + Acids: Deadly hydrogen cyanide gas release

Professional lab packing segregates your chemicals into DOT-defined hazard classes, ensuring compatible materials are packed together while incompatible substances are isolated in separate containers with proper cushioning and absorbent materials.

Non-Hazardous Laboratory Chemicals

Expired laboratory reagents and standards, cleaning solutions and detergents, unused organic and inorganic compounds, biological buffers and culture media, non-hazardous pharmaceutical intermediates

Flammable Liquids and Solvents

Acetone, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol; hexane, toluene, xylene, benzene; ether, acetonitrile, dichloromethane; paint thinners and degreasers; flash point <140°F materials (DOT Class 3)

Corrosive Acids and Bases

Sulfuric, hydrochloric, nitric acid; acetic, phosphoric, chromic acid; sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide; ammonium hydroxide, ammonia solutions; pH <2 or >12.5 materials (DOT Class 8)

Oxidizers and Reactive Materials

Hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid (oxidizing); permanganates, perchlorates, peroxides; chromates, bromates, iodates; shock-sensitive laboratory chemicals (such as peroxide formers or picric acid); water-reactive metals (sodium, potassium) (DOT Class 4 & 5.1)

Toxic and Poisonous Substances

Mercury and mercury compounds, cyanide salts and solutions, arsenic, selenium, thallium compounds, pesticides and herbicides, heavy metal solutions (lead, cadmium) (DOT Class 6.1)

Biological and Medical Waste

Biological and medical waste is managed primarily under state medical waste regulations and is only regulated as RCRA hazardous waste when it exhibits a hazardous characteristic or is specifically listed. Laboratory biological waste, expired culture media, and contaminated materials require proper segregation and disposal according to applicable state and federal requirements.

Radioactive Materials (Limited Scope)

Certain low-level radioactive laboratory materials (such as scintillation vials or radioactive laboratory materials with chemical constituents) may be managed only where permitted by applicable NRC or Agreement State regulations and disposal facility acceptance criteria. Disposal pathways and regulatory requirements vary and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Controlled Substances

Laboratory chemicals requiring coordination with DEA registrants and proper documentation

⚠️ Unknown and Unidentified Chemicals

Your facilities frequently accumulate containers with faded labels, unlabeled bottles, or materials from discontinued projects. HAZWOPER-trained technicians perform field identification using pH testing, visual assessment, and sample collection for laboratory analysis when necessary. Unknown materials are safely handled using conservative compatibility assumptions until positive identification is achieved.

Step 1: Pre-Project Consultation and Planning

Your lab pack project begins with site assessment to estimate project scope, container count, and chemical types. Facility requirements are reviewed including access restrictions, work hours, and documentation needs. Project planning includes crew size determination, equipment requirements (drums, absorbents, PPE), and timeline development to minimize your facility disruption.

Step 2: On-Site Chemical Identification and Inventory

HAZWOPER-trained technicians systematically identify and inventory every chemical container in your facility. Each item is documented with location, container type and size, chemical name and CAS number, estimated quantity, and hazard classification (flammable, corrosive, toxic, etc.). Unknown materials undergo field testing (pH, visual assessment) or sample collection for laboratory analysis. Damaged or leaking containers are immediately stabilized and overpacked to prevent releases.

Step 3: Compatibility Segregation

Your chemicals are segregated into DOT hazard classes to prevent dangerous reactions during packaging and transportation. Segregation groups include: Flammable liquids (Class 3), corrosive acids (Class 8, pH <2), corrosive bases (Class 8, pH >12.5), oxidizers (Class 5.1), reactives and water-reactives (Class 4), toxic substances (Class 6.1), and non-hazardous materials. Incompatible materials (acids and bases, oxidizers and flammables, cyanides and acids) are never packed together

Step 4: DOT-Compliant Packaging

Your chemicals are packed into UN-certified containers meeting DOT performance standards. Inner containers (bottles, jars) are secured with absorbent material (vermiculite, cellulose) and cushioning to prevent breakage. Outer packaging (typically 55-gallon DOT-approved drums) meets drop test, vibration test, and stack test requirements. Typical maximum fill levels (generally ~85% for liquids and ~95% for solids, depending on container and material) prevent overpressure during temperature changes. Each lab pack drum is labeled with proper DOT shipping name, UN number, and hazard class markings.

Step 5: Waste Profiling and Manifest Preparation

Waste profiles are developed for each of your lab pack drums, documenting all chemicals, quantities, hazard characteristics, and proper disposal methods. EPA hazardous waste manifests track your materials from generation through disposal, satisfying RCRA cradle-to-grave requirements. DOT-compliant shipping papers include proper shipping names, emergency contact information, and hazard classifications for transportation compliance. All documentation is provided to your facility for regulatory compliance files.

Step 6: Transportation and Disposal

Your lab pack drums are transported to EPA-permitted treatment, storage, and disposal facilities (TSDFs) using DOT-registered hazardous materials carriers. Disposal methods are matched to chemical types: incineration for organic chemicals and solvents, neutralization for acids and bases, stabilization for heavy metals and toxic materials, and specialized facilities for materials requiring unique handling. Certificates of disposal confirm compliant waste management and are provided to your facility for permanent records.

Research & Development Laboratories

Typical Chemicals: Expired reagents, discontinued project chemicals, prototype materials, analytical standards, research solvents, specialty compounds from terminated programs

Universities and Educational Institutions

Typical Chemicals: Teaching lab chemicals, expired standards, research materials, unknown chemicals from decades-old inventory, faded labels, deteriorated containers requiring expert identification

Manufacturing Quality Control Labs

Typical Chemicals: Testing reagents, analytical standards, process chemicals that expire, surplus chemicals from discontinued testing methods, materials from facility upgrades or plant closures

Pharmaceutical and Biotech Facilities

Typical Chemicals: Expired API intermediates, failed batch materials, research chemicals, surplus reagents, cell culture media, hazardous biological compounds requiring specialized disposal

Medical and Clinical Laboratories

Typical Chemicals: Chemical reagents for patient testing that expire, obsolete materials from testing protocol changes, surplus chemicals from equipment upgrades or laboratory consolidations

Environmental Testing Labs

Typical Chemicals: Extraction solvents, analytical standards, preserved samples, mercury-preserved samples, acid-preserved aqueous samples, organic solvent extracts from EPA Method 8000-series procedures

Industrial QA/QC Facilities

Typical Chemicals: Process control reagents, calibration standards, titration solutions, buffer solutions, pH standards, expired chromatography solvents and mobile phases

Paint and Coatings Manufacturers

Typical Chemicals: Surplus pigments, obsolete resins, expired additives, testing solvents, quality control samples, waste thinners and cleanup solvents

Service-Driven: HAZWOPER-Certified Expertise

All lab pack technicians hold OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER certification with annual 8-hour refresher training. Crews are trained in chemical identification, compatibility assessment, DOT packaging requirements, and emergency response procedures. This expertise ensures safe handling of your unknown materials, reactive chemicals, and high-hazard substances while protecting facility personnel and the environment. Experience with specialized materials including shock-sensitive peroxides, water-reactive metals, pyrophoric materials, and controlled substances requiring coordination with DEA registrants and proper documentation.

Client-Focused: Turnkey Project Management

Second-generation family-owned business with 30+ years in environmental services. Every phase of your lab pack project is managed from initial planning through final disposal: pre-project consultation and scope estimation, on-site chemical inventory and identification, compatibility assessment and segregation, DOT-compliant packaging and labeling, waste profiling and manifest preparation, transportation coordination, and disposal facility management with certificates of disposal. Single-vendor accountability eliminates coordination burdens and ensures seamless project completion. Real people answer phones 7 AM-5 PM weekdays.

Guaranteed Compliance: Complete Documentation

25+ years, tens of thousands of projects, zero EPA violations. Full compliance ensured with EPA RCRA hazardous waste regulations, DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR), and OSHA worker protection standards. Every project includes detailed chemical inventories, waste profiles for TSDF acceptance, EPA hazardous waste manifests, DOT-compliant shipping papers, and certificates of disposal. Complete documentation satisfies your regulatory requirements and protects your facility during audits or inspections. $21 million pollution liability insurance protects your operations.