Many labs simply “dispose” of their used solvents after use. What “disposal” frequently means in reality is that the used lab solvent is being destructively disposed of through the process of incineration. Did you know that incineration is the most common method U.S. labs use to dispose of solvents? It might seem like an easy solution—quickly out of sight, out of mind—but incinerating solvents comes with substantial environmental impact and operational costs.
When solvents are incinerated, they’re exposed to extremely high temperatures that break down their chemical bonds. This process can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), greenhouse gases, and other pollutants into the air—contributing to poor air quality and increased environmental risk. It’s also one of the most energy-intensive methods of hazardous waste disposal, requiring substantial heat energy input to degrade the chemical structure of the solvent.
The Regulatory Ripple Effect
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies labs based on the amount of hazardous waste they generate. Sending large volumes of solvent waste for incineration can increase your waste generator status—leading to higher compliance requirements, more complex reporting, and increased disposal fees.
EPA Waste Generator Categories:
Labs are classified by the EPA based on the amount of hazardous waste generated per month:
- VSQG (Very Small Quantity Generator): ≤100 kg/month
- SQG (Small Quantity Generator): 100–1,000 kg/month
- LQG (Large Quantity Generator): ≥1,000 kg/month
The more waste a lab produces, the more stringent the regulatory requirements. (Source: U.S. EPA)
A Smarter, More Sustainable Alternative
If your lab is incinerating used solvents, there’s a smarter solution—on-site solvent recycling. By recovering, recycling and reusing solvents, labs can drastically reduce waste, lower their reliance on virgin solvents, and improve operational efficiency.
Here’s a breakdown of key benefits of solvent recycling:
Lower Waste Generator Status: Reduce your solvent waste volume by up to 95%, improving your EPA classification and cutting disposal costs.
Improved Sustainability: Recycling extends the life of your current solvents and supports greener operations.
Reduced Solvent Acquisition Costs: Solvent prices have been on the rise. Recycling can reduce purchasing costs by up to 95% and protect your budget from future price increases.
This might sound like an added expense and additional work for your team. But in practice, on-site solvent recycling streamlines your workflow and reduces your operating expenses.
Streamlining Lab Operations
Solvent recycling systems are designed to integrate into your lab seamlessly. They process and separate solvent by type, through the process of distillation for reuse—returning clean solvent right back into your lab’s process. The positive results include: fewer solvent purchase orders, less waste, less "disposal" and a cleaner, more efficient operation and environment.
Common Recycling Methods in the Lab
Here are a few of the most common methods used in solvent recycling:
- Solvent Distillation: This process separates usable solvent from non-volatile components by heating the mixture, then condensing the vapor back into liquid form.
- Solvent Recovery: A broader process that captures and purifies solvents from waste streams so they can be reused in future applications.
- Adsorption: Often used for fine purification, this method uses materials like activated carbon to trap and remove impurities from solvent mixtures.
Where Solvent Recycling Meets Practical Application
For labs exploring solvent recycling, choosing a system that fits your workflow, safety protocols, and concentration requirements is essential. A system like PathTrue™ offers a lab-friendly solution—fully automated fractional distillation designed to recover solvents like xylene, alcohol, and acetone with high concentration and efficiency.
For many labs, this approach supports long-term sustainability and compliance goals—while making day-to-day operations more manageable.
Moving Forward Thoughtfully
If your lab is rethinking how your solvents are managed, recycling isn’t just a smarter alternative—it’s a practical one. By shifting away from incineration, you’re not only reducing environmental impact but also making a measurable improvement to lab efficiency, cost control, and compliance (safety, regulatory and sustainability). Want to explore what this could look like in your facility? The team at CBG Biotech can help you evaluate the best-fit solution for your lab's specific goals. Contact us today.
Check out these other helpful resources:
- Blog Post: How Much Does Using a Solvent Distillation Unit in Your Lab Cost?
Learn how much solvent distillation equipment costs and how much your laboratory will need to spend to operate and maintain your lab distillation system. - Blog Post: How Solvent Recycling and Recovery Saves Time and Improves Workflow
Histology and pathology laboratories must seek out innovative solutions and strategies to enhance resource management and operational productivity. - Blog Post: The Benefits of Using Fractional Distillation Equipment in Your Medical Lab
Using fractional distillation equipment to recycle solvent waste can save your lab time, money and human labor.
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