Destruction of Aromatic Amines in Laboratory Wastes Through Oxidation with Potassium Permanganate/Sulfuric Acid into Non-mutagenic Derivatives

Nine aromatic amines, i.e., benzidine; o-tolidine; o-dianisidine; 3,3’-dichlorobenzidine; 4-aminobiphenyl; 1- and 2-naphthylamine; 4,4’-methylene bis(2-chloroaniline) and m-toluenediamine were oxidized with potassium permanganate/sulfuric acid. Experimental conditions for complete degradation of these aromatic amines are described. The disappearance of the parent compound through oxidation was measured using HPLC coupled with UV spectrophotometry. The corresponding degradation products were found to be non-mutagenic to Salmonella typhimurium strains TA100, TA98 and TA97, both in the presence and absence of a rat liver S9 activation system. A collaborative study, involving 11 laboratories, has shown the applicability and the reproducibility of this degradation method.