Who are they?

Founded in 1824, The University of Manchester is one of the UK’s leading higher education institutions. Part of the prestigious Russell Group of universities, it is known across Europe for its research and education.

Following the 2006 merger of The University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) and The University of Manchester, the university has undergone significant restructuring of its facilities and research spaces.

What were their challenges?

As part of a reorganisation and move to a new building, the University wanted to remove chemicals and dispose of hazardous materials from several areas in the previous UMIST area. A challenge arose in the Pariser Building on the North Campus, where years of relocation had resulted in hundreds of unmarked containers being stored together on the 8th floor.

These unidentified materials, collected over time by the Materials Science department, presented a significant safety risk. Due to the unknown nature and potential danger of the substances, traditional dip testing was not an option. So, The University needed a safe, cost-effective, and efficient solution for identification and disposal.

A particular concern involved a 25 litre drum labelled only in fragments, suggesting the presence of an organic peroxide – a potentially unstable and hazardous substance – posing a serious challenge to safe transport & disposal.

How has CSG made a difference for The University of Manchester?

CSG deployed its specialist Lab Waste service to tackle this complex problem. This was one of the first major projects to utilise CSG’s recently acquired Agilent Resolve infra-red spectrophotometer, a cutting-edge tool that enables our team to non-invasively scan and identify the contents of each container.

Over four days, each item underwent 1–3 scans depending on container type and laser penetration. The Agilent Resolve provided sufficient data to classify the materials for safe transport and disposal – ranging from exact matches to general indications (e.g., resins, glycols), enabling CSG to classify and package the waste with a 95% accuracy rate.

All materials were handled and disposed of without incident. The standout success involved the 25L drum suspected of containing organic peroxide. By setting the scanner on a timer and evacuating the area as a precaution, the team was able to determine that the drum contained cured polystyrene resin, not an unstable substance. This avoided the need for costly intervention by explosives experts—saving the University significant expense and potential disruption.

Thanks to CSG’s expertise and use of advanced technology, the University of Manchester was able to resolve a potentially dangerous issue safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively. The Agilent Resolve now plays a key role in CSG’s Lab Waste services, supporting our customers in managing complex chemical waste challenges.