A laboratory procedure was devised to recover bromine from waste alkaline aqueous solutions used in the isotopic determination of N-15. The laboratory apparatus comprises two round bottom flasks (1 and 2 L), a dropping funnel, a gas bubbler, a gas regulator and glass fittings. The waste solution is acidified with sulfuric acid forming molecular bromine that is stripped out by a flow of nitrogen gas bubbled through the solution. This gas is then bubbled through a solution of lithium hydroxide generating lithium bromide and lithium hypobromite. The efficiency of bromine recovery was estimated to be 82±2%. This resulting solution was successfully reused in the isotopic determination of N-15. The procedure can recycle most of the bromine used in the laboratory saving resources and preserving the environment. The procedure can be adapted to recover bromine of other laboratory waste streams.
bromine recovery; residual solutions; residue treatment
