tsi90 - 12-9-2007 at 15:23
I have left over water washes from a recent reaction using sodium azide. What is the best way to dispose of it?
Eclectic - 12-9-2007 at 15:25
Dilute nitric acid should oxidize it.
A smidgen of platinum, palladium, or nickel, or iron might help.
[Edited on 9-12-2007 by Eclectic]
tsi90 - 12-9-2007 at 15:44
Iron and heat. that should take care of it right?
Maybe I should just stick with acid. Nitric acid or nitrous acid? Ive heard both work but is one better to reduce formation of HN3?
[Edited on 12-9-2007 by tsi90]
Eclectic - 12-9-2007 at 18:04
Nitrous is probably a sure thing, nitric may require a catalyst (the above listed metals). Just don't pour it down the drain before decomposing it,
or you may develop explosive drain pipes.
Dilute nitric acid worked for me to decompose a dilute slurry of lead azide long ago.
woelen - 12-9-2007 at 22:39
Use nitrous acid. This is MUCH faster and certain than the use of dilute nitric acid. If you have nitrites then this is the way to get rid of azide.
It works fast and clean (IIRC giving nitrogen gas).
YT2095 - 13-9-2007 at 00:59
IIRC, nitrATE can be reduced to nitrITE with Cadmium or Zinc metal also if you don`t have any nitrites laying about 
woelen - 13-9-2007 at 01:34
I would not use cadmium for this. Then you only increase your waste problem. Getting rid of cadmium waste is not easy at all. Azide waste in the long
run is much less environmentally problematic than cadmium waste. Azide is decomposed fairly quickly, cadmium persists.
I am a fish - 13-9-2007 at 01:46
When decomposing azides in an acidic environment, do so in a well ventilated area, because hydrogen azide vapour may be given off.