Safe Handling & Detoxification of Osmium Tetroxide: Risks & Solutions

Osmium tetroxide (OsO4) is highly volatile compound with strong oxidizing properties. It is mostly used as a catalyst in organic syntheses and as a staining compound in electron microscopy. Osmium tetroxide is highly toxic even in very small concentrations and considered as a potential chemical weapon. Exposure to this compound leads to severe eye irritation and eventual blindness as well as lung damage and possible respiratory failure. Detoxification of osmium tetroxide solutions is necessary for its proper disposal and spill decontamination. According to the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, a 2 percent solution of osmium tetroxide solution is fully neutralized by twice its volume of corn oil.

Things You'll Need

• Corn oil
• Filter paper
• Glass Beaker (100 to 250 ml)

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Instructions

• 1

  Calculate corn oil volume V(oil) that should be used.
  V(oil) = c(OsO4) x V(OsO4) , where V(OsO4) is the volume of osmium tetroxide solution and c(OsO4) is its concentration.
  For example, to neutralize 10 ml of 3 percent osmium tetroxide solution, 30 (3 x 10) ml of corn oil should be used.

• 2

  Add corn oil to the solution of osmium tetroxide.

• 3

  Wait 3 to 5 minutes until the solution becomes black.

• 4

  Dip a piece of the filter paper for 2 to 3 seconds into fresh corn oil. Place the filter paper over the osmium tetroxide solution.

• 5

  If the filter paper begins to turn black, add an additional portion of corn oil (approximately half of the initial volume calculated in Step 1) to the osmium tetroxide solution. Wait 3 to 5 minutes.