Destruction of Azo and Azoxy Compounds and 2-Aminoanthracene

Abstract

The destruction of a number of hazardous compounds that might be found in laboratories was studied. The reaction mixtures were analyzed by high pressure liquid chromatography for the presence of the compound and tested for mutagenicity using the Salmonella/mammalian microsome mutagenicity assay. A 0.3-M solution of potassium permanganate in 3 M sulfuric acid can be used for the degradation of azobenzene, azoxyanisole, phenylazophenol, phenylazoaniline, Fast Garnet, and 2-amino-anthracene. Nickel-aluminum alloy in 2 M potassium hydroxide solution can be used for the destruction of azobenzene, azoxybenzene, azoxyanisole, and phenylazophenol. In each case, the compounds were completely degraded to their limit of detection and only nonmutagenic reaction mixtures were produced. Amberlite XAD-16 resin was used to decontaminate aqueous solutions of all the above compounds as well as Methyl Yellow. In each case, the solution was completely decontaminated and nonmutagenic reaction mixtures were produced. The compounds could be recovered by washing the resin with methanol.