Working with a team of police, fire, and emergency agencies, University of Arkansas Police and the Springdale Police Department EOD (Emergency Operations Division) removed a container of potentially hazardous picric acid from a University laboratory early this morning and destroyed it by detonation at a quarry near West Fork, the University reported today. Picric acid, or Trinitrophenol, is a chemical used in the manufacture of explosives and as an intermediate in dye manufacturing. It is also present in many laboratories, for use as a chemical reagent, particularly by researchers who study tissue samples.

In a solid form, picric acid would be classified as an explosive. In a dilute solution, however, it would be completely stable.

The picric acid was discovered in Room 713 of the Science Engineering Building, as a result of a new program put in place this summer by the University's Environmental Health and Safety Office. Dr. Miriam K. Lonon, the University's new environmental health and safety officer as of July 13, has implemented a comprehensive chemical hygiene program in which department heads and chairs were asked to examine their inventory for hazardous materials to be disposed of. The interim head of the department of biological sciences, Dr. Doug Rhoades, asked his faculty for such an inventory, and one of them reported the container of picric acid. Dr. Rhoades notified Dr. Lonon yesterday morning.

The chemical was in a gallon-size container, with a label identifying the contents as picric acid. The condition of the bottle made it difficult to determine what state the acid was in, though environmental health and safety officials found it to be in a dilute solution. The container, found in a cabinet and wrapped in bubble plastic, had been stored in this location at least since 1992.

While there was no immediate danger posed by the material, University police and environmental safety officers thought it prudent to neutralize the container in a safe manner.

During Tuesday, these officials talked to individuals knowledgeable about handling such materials. University of Arkansas Police Department called a meeting with various agencies at 7 p.m. to finalize plans for removing and destroying this materials.

The operation was spearheaded by Brad Bruns, captain, UAPD police services. Assisting in the removal operation, which began at 4 a.m. Wednesday, were the UA Environmental Health and Safety Office; the UA Department of Chemistry; Washington County Office of Emergency Services; Springdale Police Department EOD; Fayetteville Fire Department; Washington County Sheriff's Office; Arkansas State Police; Central Emergency Medical Services; and the Greenland Police Department.

The time selected for removal of the material"between 4 and 5 a.m."was selected because of low traffic and low public exposure. The time also provided the opportunity to reduce exposure and excessive temperatures to the contents of the container. Removal occurred without incident.

The Springdale Police Department EOD removed the material by walking it down the stairs to the second floor of the Science Engineering Building and exiting the building on the south side. As a safety precaution, the squad placed the container on a dump truck loaded with sand. The dump truck became the centerpiece of caravan of emergency vehicles"using a route selected to minimize public exposure" that escorted it to a rock quarry in West Fork, where it was destroyed by explosives at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday.

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