Glucose (CAS 50-99-7): storage and disposal

Glucose is the low hazard, food grade sugar that every school, college and hospital laboratory seems to hold, in jars for Benedict's tests and in solution for culture work. On the sources we checked it is not classified as hazardous, but laboratory stock is still chemical waste and must be described accurately. The practical issues are damp and what the jar sits beside.

CAS number: 50-99-7
Form: Solid
Storage class: General
Usual EWC code: 16 05 09

What to do this week

Check the label is readable and write down the opened date if it is not already there.
Check it is stored as general stock and apart from the items listed under "Do not store with".
If you no longer need it, add it to your disposal list so it goes on the next collection.

Safe storage in a school or lab

Check what shares the shelf, because the one real risk for a sugar jar is a strongly oxidising neighbour. Calcium hypochlorite, chromium trioxide, hydrogen peroxide, potassium chlorate, potassium dichromate, potassium permanganate and sodium chlorate can form mixtures with it that burn fiercely or explode, and osmium tetroxide must be kept well away from organic materials like this. Keep glucose on a dry, labelled, well organised shelf, dated on arrival and kept apart from food grade supplies even though it is edible grade. Pathology and pharmacy stores often hold it in several sizes, so keep the labels legible.

How to tell it has deteriorated

Clumping and mould show damp. A jar that should run freely but has set into lumps, a sticky or wet surface under the lid, and a faint sour smell all point to a poor seal. Liquid glucose that has crystallised at the neck or grown a skin shows the same. Fine sugar dust round the cap draws damp, so a clean thread matters. A jar with no date or a faded label cannot be described properly. Record the condition and the label, and do not scoop out mouldy stock to rescue the rest of the jar.

How it must be disposed of

By specialist collection only. It never goes down the drain or into general waste. It is normally packed in a non-regulated or low hazard laboratory pack with compatible chemicals.

Old laboratory stock should still leave through the chemical route when it is labelled as a laboratory chemical, however ordinary the sugar inside. On the sources we checked glucose is not classified as hazardous, so it uses the non hazardous code 16 05 09, with 18 01 07 for a healthcare setting, and a waste transfer note covers the move. It must not go into a sink, a drain or the kitchen bin, and nobody should dissolve it first. Give the label wording, the form and the quantity when requesting collection.

Waste codes and transport details for Glucose
EWC code, laboratory chemicals	16 05 09
Human healthcare setting	18 01 07
Hazardous waste	No

The code depends on where the waste came from and what it is mixed with. Use the waste code finder to see why.

Do not store with

Named chemicals to keep apart

Calcium hypochloriteStrong oxidisers can form mixtures with these materials that burn fiercely or explode.
Chromium trioxideStrong oxidisers can form mixtures with these materials that burn fiercely or explode.
Hydrogen peroxideStrong oxidisers can form mixtures with these materials that burn fiercely or explode.
Osmium tetroxideOsmium tetroxide is a strong oxidiser that reacts with these materials and can release toxic gas.
Potassium chlorateStrong oxidisers can form mixtures with these materials that burn fiercely or explode.
Potassium dichromateStrong oxidisers can form mixtures with these materials that burn fiercely or explode.
Potassium permanganateStrong oxidisers can form mixtures with these materials that burn fiercely or explode.
Sodium chlorateStrong oxidisers can form mixtures with these materials that burn fiercely or explode.

Show 1 more

Sodium dichromateStrong oxidisers can form mixtures with these materials that burn fiercely or explode.

Common quantities we collect

Usually held as: solid.

Part-used bottles and full containers are both fine. Tell us the size and how many, and an estimate is enough for a first price.

Where it is commonly held

Questions

Glucose is food grade sugar, so why not put it in the bin?

Once it is laboratory stock it is a chemical waste and has to be described accurately, even though it is not classified as hazardous on the sources we checked. It leaves through the chemical route, with the label and the quantity recorded.

What should glucose be kept away from?

Strongly oxidising chemicals such as potassium permanganate, hydrogen peroxide, chlorates, dichromates and chromium trioxide, which can form mixtures with it that burn fiercely or explode. Keep it on a different shelf from the oxidising salts.

The jar has lumps and a bit of mould. Is it collectable?

Yes. Clumping and mould show damp. Do not scoop the mould out or try to dry the jar. Keep the lid on, record the condition and label wording, and request collection as normal.