Dry-distillation of experimental animal wastes containing radioisotopes

Mice were dry-distilled at 800deg C for 10 min, after [32P]orthophosphate or L-[4,5-3H]leucine was intraperitoneally administered. Phosphorus-32 was quantitatively recovered in the residual solid, whereas 95% of 3H was found in the distillate (condensed water). When 14C (L-[U-14C]malic acid or L-[U-14C]leucine) was administered to mice and they were dry-distilled, 14C-radioactivity was distributed into two fractions; residual solid and exhaust gas. In these cases, the recovery percentage of 14C in residual solid was not very high but increased as the treating temperature decreased. It reached about 40% of the administered 14C at 400deg C for 120 min. By the dry-distillation of animals, their weight was reduced to about 10% in every animal tested (mice, rats and rabbits). The volume was reduced to about 20% in cases of mice and rats, and about 30% in case of rabbits. It was concluded that the dry-distillation can be useful as a pre-treatment for disposal of animal wastes containing radioisotopes. (author)