Hi AMMRL:
I have managed to cobble together some information pertaining to
shipping NMR samples, with a huge assist from Doug Wheeler at the U
Wyoming, who was kind enough to send me a detailed email that formed the
basis for much of what is included here. If there was to be an author
acknowledgment, he would deserve primacy with this. I also very much
appreciate the responses I got from Gary Turner, Roger Sheets, George
Sukenick, Dave Scott, Adrienne Hoeglund, and Jane Strouse.
I am hopeful that you will view this email as helpful to the community.
Shipping samples is a tricky subject, but all the more reason to
become aware of the rules and follow them. Some of them may be
troublesome, but for most compounds they are certainly workable. Because
of the difficulty of the subject, I have not included the text of emails
sent to me. If this write-up does not adequately cover a topic, please
let me or the full distribution know.
There are two sections below: first a section I have written specific
to our facility, followed by a more general section based on information
Doug sent, and amended with the help of the safety group here at the
Univ. Wisconsin. Some Hazmat shipping regulations are available on the
Internet (e.g., google 49 CFR 173.4), but it appears that the IATA
Dangerous Goods Regulations are not.
Regards,
Charlie
Specific UWChemMRF Requirements:
Samples should be properly prepared for analysis by NMR:
- dissolved in a common deuterated solvent (0.6 mL)
- placed in a clearly labeled 5mm NMR tube (e.g., Wilmad ECONOMY)
- sealed with parafilm or similar.
In some instances, it may be simpler to send samples not dissolved in
solvent. An additional fee will be applied depending on the solvent
requested (which we will then supply). Make certain your sample will be
soluble in the specified solvent; we will not "experiment" with other
solvents. In these cases:
- place the proper amount of material within a clearly labeled 5mm NMR
tube (e.g., Wilmad ECONOMY), and seal with parafilm or similar
- indicate clearly the NMR solvent to be used to dissolve the sample
(CDCl3, acetone-d6, benzene-d6, acetonitrile-d3, methanol-d4, D2O DMSO-d6).
No more than ten samples should be included in any one package.
It is the shipper's responsibility to assure that the samples are
properly sealed and packaged.
A UWChemMRF analysis form must be filled out, providing (the best guess
as to) the chemical structure of the compound, the information desired
from NMR, and clean-up suggestions in the event of a tube breakage.
Samples shipped to our laboratory for analysis will be disposed of at
the UW. If the sample must be returned to the shipper, an additional
fee will apply (cost depending on the type of shipping required).
Introduction to Shipping Regulations
The following information is introductory only, to assist in orienting
users to the issues involved with proper shipping of samples to the
UW-Madison Chemistry Magnetic Resonance Facility (UWChemMRF). All
persons shipping samples must take full responsibility for following the
actual DOT and/or IATA regulations.
Many samples to be shipped by ground for analytical analysis by NMR will
fall under the DOT provisions of 49 CFR 173.4, Small Quantity
Exceptions. Similar samples to be shipped by air will fall under the
International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods
Regulations 2.7, Dangerous Goods in Excepted Quantities. The provisions
in these regulations are similar, but there are some differences.
Small quantities of material, typically under 30 g or 30 mL (but
sometimes 1 g or 1 mL), may fall within the exceptions. The package can
contain more than one item. Larger quantities of material, or samples
that must be refrigerated will not fall under these exceptions.
The class, "UN number", and packing group for the material(s) must be
identified. The package must be adequately sized (e.g., two dimensions
of at least 4 inches), correctly labeled (e.g., displaying a 4x4"
Dangerous Goods in Excepted Quantities label), and properly packed. The
shipping request and label must be filled out and signed by a
"knowledgeable" person (someone with Hazmat shipper training).
Under the Dangerous Goods in Excepted Quantities method,
Allowed classes of materials include:
Flammable liquid
Some flammable solids
Some water reactive substances
Some oxidizers
Most toxic substances
Some corrosive materials
Under the Dangerous Goods in Excepted Quantities method,
Forbidden classes of materials include:
Explosives
Flammable Gas
Toxic Gas
Self Reactive substances
Pyrophoric substances
Infectious substances
Radioactive material
These lists are only representative. Table 2.7.A in the Dangerous Goods
Regulations is an example that provides precise details.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Charles G. Fry, Ph.D. Tel: (608)262-3182
Director, MR Facility Fax: (608)262-0381
Chem. Dept., 1101 University Ave, Univ. Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI 53706 USA email: fry_at_chem.wisc.edu
Received on Mon Dec 11 2006 - 15:11:43 MST