Sucrose (CAS 57-50-1): storage and disposal

Sucrose sits in school, college, university and pathology stores in large jars, bought for density, osmosis and culture work. It is not classified as hazardous on the sources we checked, though a laboratory jar is still a chemical waste that needs an accurate description. Because it looks exactly like kitchen sugar, the risks are mix-ups, damp and the bottles stored next to it.

CAS number: 57-50-1
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

No hazard of its own decides the shelf, so the neighbours do. Calcium hypochlorite, chromium trioxide, hydrogen peroxide, potassium chlorate, potassium dichromate, potassium permanganate, sodium chlorate and sodium dichromate can form mixtures with it that burn fiercely or explode, so none of them should share its shelf or tray. Keep sucrose in a dry, labelled, well organised store, dated on arrival, and separate from food grade supplies so a laboratory jar never ends up in a staff room. Big tubs in a school prep room are often decanted into smaller jars, and each jar needs its own label.

How to tell it has deteriorated

A technician sees damp first: sugar that should tip freely sits in a hard cake, a sticky film lines the lid, or the crystals stick to the glass. Mould and a sour smell follow in a humid cupboard, and insects find an open tub. Brown patches may indicate contamination or previous exposure to substantial heat, rather than ordinary ageing on a shelf. Unlike many laboratory chemicals it gives no other specific warning, so the label and lid carry the evidence. Record the condition and the label wording, and do not scrape mould from the top and keep the rest.

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.

Putting it in the kitchen bin or sweeping it down a sink or drain is what must not happen, because laboratory sucrose stays a chemical waste even though it is edible grade. On the sources we checked it is not classified as hazardous, so it uses the non hazardous code 16 05 09, with 18 01 07 for a pathology or healthcare setting, and a waste transfer note covers the move. It is grouped with other solid laboratory chemicals in a lab pack. Record the jar's label wording, its state and the approximate quantity.

Waste codes and transport details for Sucrose
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.
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.
Sodium dichromateStrong oxidisers can form mixtures with these materials that burn fiercely or explode.

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Sulfuric acidConcentrated sulfuric acid reacts violently with these materials.

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

Is laboratory sucrose treated differently from food sugar?

Yes. Once it is held as laboratory stock it is chemical waste and must be described accurately, even though it is not classified as hazardous on the sources we checked. Food grade supplies stay separate and are not mixed with it.

What should sucrose be stored away from?

Strongly oxidising chemicals, including chlorates, dichromates, permanganate, hydrogen peroxide, chromium trioxide and calcium hypochlorite. These can form mixtures with it that burn fiercely or explode. A separate shelf in a different cupboard is enough.

Our sucrose has set into a block and smells sour. What now?

That shows damp and probably mould. Do not break it up or scrape mould off. Keep the lid on, record the condition and label wording, and request collection with the rest of the stock.