Decontamination of solutions > 0.5mg/ml
This method reduces the mutagenic activity by ~3000 fold and is taken from Quillardet and Hofnung, 1988.
1) Add sufficient water to make the concentration < 0.5mg/ml.
2) Add 1 volume of 0.5M KMnO4 followed by one volume of 2.5M HCl.
Mix carefully and allow to stand at room temperature for several hours.
N.B.: Acidified solutions of KMnO4 are powerful oxidising agents.
3) Add 1 volume of 2.5M NaOH. Mix carefully and then discard the solution.
Decontamination of dilute solutions (~0.5ug/ml)
This method is after Bensaude, 1988.
1) Add 100mg powdered activated charcoal for each 100ml solution.
2) Store mixture at room temperature for 1 hour, mixing occasionally.
3) Filter through Whatman filter paper and discard the filtrate.
4) Seal filter paper in a bag and dispose of as for hazardous waste i.e. incineration.