Is acetone biodegradable? (7 precautions to dispose of acetone)
The article will explain the biodegradability of acetone. Other covered topics would include:
- How readily does acetone biodegrade?
- Is acetone eco-friendly?
- How to store acetone sustainably?
- How to dispose of acetone sustainably?
- Can you pour acetone down the drain?
- How long can you store acetone?
Is acetone biodegradable?
Acetone is biodegradable since it is organic and may degrade by microbes readily. However, it is not considered eco-friendly because of its negative effects on health and life.
Therefore, it is important to store and dispose of acetone safely and sustainably so that life may not be affected. To store acetone, keep it in cool, dry and air-tight containers, away from chances of spill and mishandling.
As regards disposal, acetone may be disposed of in hazardous bins of hazardous waste facilities after proper soaking and covering. Acetone is fairly stable and it is asserted to safely store acetone so that it may be reused and repurposed as long as it can be so that the disposal is kept as a last option.
Does acetone degrade readily?
Yes, acetone is biodegradable and is researched to degrade by the action of microbes readily in a matter of days.
Biodegradation is the breakdown that is caused by the action of microbes such as bacteria, fungi, algae, and other decomposers. It is nature’s way of ensuring that there is no waste accumulation.
For biodegradation to happen, there are certain general requirements such as the material should be natural and organic so that it can be ingested by the microbes.
In our case, acetone is an organic compound otherwise known as propanone. Have you ever come across a nail polish remover in your house? Chances are that you might have. Nail polish removers contain acetone.
Other noteworthy applications of acetone include the manufacturing of plastics, electroplating and printing. It is widely used as an organic solvent for various uses and applications.
Since acetone is organic, it can degrade by the action of microbes and therefore, is regarded as biodegradable.
Is acetone good for the environment?
It is usually perceived that if something is biodegradable, it should be good for the environment too. While it may be the case for many, it is not an absolute rule of thumb.
The case of acetone can be a good example to prove this point because acetone is considered a hazardous waste because of its detrimental impacts on the health of humans, animals and fish.
While acetone may be called biodegradable, it certainly can not be given the status of eco-friendly because it harms one of the most important elements of eco: life. To better understand this stance, let us go through some of the negative effects that are caused by acetone.
Effects on plants
Acetone is considered dangerous for plants because of the detrimental impacts rendered that include:
- Membrane damage
- Decrease in size of plants
- Altered germination
- Affected the health of plants
- Loss of yield
- Loss of ornamental plants
Effects on humans
The negative effects of acetone on humans include:
- Nose irritation
- Allergy
- Damage to eyes
- Respiratory issues
- Damage to lungs
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Reproductive complications
- Confusion
Therefore, based on these anomalies, it can be asserted that there is a wide range of effects on humans and this further asserts why acetone is regarded as a hazardous waste.
How to store and handle acetone sustainably?
It has been established that acetone can cause severity of issues for animals, plants and also humans; therefore, it is incumbent to be aware of what are the right ways to store acetone so that these effects are avoided and the environment is saved from all possible hazards.
For the safe and sustainable storage of acetone, consider the following points:
- Store acetone in good-quality jars
- Store acetone in air-tight jars
- Store acetone where there is the least chance of a spill or accidental breakage
- Store acetone away from the reach of children and careless personnel
- Store acetone in a cool and dry place and keep it distant from heat sources since it is highly flammable
- Manage acetone only after earring personal protective equipment (PPE) so that you can be saved from the hazards of acetone
- Manage acetone in well-ventilated areas/benches
How to sustainably dispose of acetone? (7 precautions)
Another important point that we need to cover is how to safely and sustainably dispose of acetone because correct disposal methods will act as a shield and will promote the safety of life and the environment; the cornerstones of eco-friendliness and sustainability.
For the safe and sustainable disposal of acetone, consider the following points:
- Always dispose of acetone in hazardous waste bins. These are the red-coloured bins that are specifically intended for hazardous waste such as acetone
- If there are no hazardous waste bins, make sure to drop them off in a hazardous waste management facility
- You can also schedule a pickup from a nearby hazardous waste facility
- You would need to look for TSDR (hazardous waste treatment, storage, disposal or recycling facility)
- In the quest for hazardous waste facilities, you may look them up on the internet or on websites such as the EPA.
Regarding the disposal of acetone in a sustainable manner, also consider the following precautions that can be of due importance:
- Small amounts of acetone can be disposed of after soaking them in cotton swabs or tissue rolls. Be sure to place these rolls in red-coloured bins.
- Do not pour acetone down the drain
- Do not pour acetone into your soil or backyard
- Wear appropriate PPE while disposing of acetone
- Wear special N95 masks to save yourself from fumes since acetone is linked with respiratory issues and damage to the lungs
- Do not dispose of acetone openly. Always do it covered or soaked.
- Keep the disposed of acetone away from sunlight or heat sources since the material is highly flammable
Can you pour acetone down the drain?
Perhaps you may have thought about disposing of acetone down the drain because it seems the most convenient. While it may be convenient, it certainly is not good for the environment.
As stated, there is a plethora of detrimental impacts of acetone on life, therefore, by openly disposing of acetone, you are putting lives at risk, be it humans, animals or fish.
Also, there is a risk that your drainage pipes may also be affected by the disposal of acetone (especially in large quantities) and therefore, the concern is not only environmental but also economical.
Hence, the best thing that you can do is to dispose of acetone either in hazardous waste bins or hazardous waste facilities after properly covering it in bags or soaking it entirely. This way, you will ensure that the acetone does not damage anyone.
How long can you store acetone?
Acetone is a relatively stable material and if kept properly, you can store it for a long time such as a decade or more.
Therefore, it is asserted to safely store acetone so that it may be reused and repurposed as long as it can be so that disposal is kept as the last option because of the fact that it is a hazardous waste and required due deliberation for right disposal practices.
Conclusion
It is concluded that acetone is biodegradable since it is organic and may degrade by microbes readily. However, it is not considered eco-friendly because of its negative effects on health and life.
Therefore, it is important to store and dispose of acetone safely and sustainably so that life may not be affected. To store acetone, keep it in cool, dry and air-tight containers, away from chances of spill and mishandling.
As regards disposal, acetone may be disposed of in hazardous bins of hazardous waste facilities after proper soaking and covering. Acetone is fairly stable and it is asserted to safely store acetone so that it may be reused and repurposed as long as it can be so that the disposal is kept as a last option.
References
VelocityEHS. Acetone: The Hidden Hazard. Retrieved from: https://www.ehs.com/2013/06/acetone-the-hidden-hazard/
Clifton, Jessica. (November 21, 2017). Can I pour acetone down the drain? Retrieved from:
ORLY. How to Dispose of Nail Polish Remover. Retrieved from: https://orlybeauty.com/blogs/news/how-to-dispose-of-nail-polish-remover