Appendix J - Peroxide Forming Chemicals
Peroxide Forming Chemicals
Peroxide Guide
Peroxide testing should be conducted every 6 months after opening and prior to distillation, evaporation, purification, or concentration of the chemical. When disposing of a PFC through the EHS hazardous waste stream, a peroxide test must be performed and documented on the bottle prior to pickup. Dispose of by the expiration date or after 12 months unless testing indicates no peroxides present.
Do NOT Test If:
- Crystals are present
- A precipitate, crust, or unusual discoloration is observed
- The container is bulging or damaged
- The cap appears stuck or difficult to remove
In the above situations, contact EHS immediately.
| A. Chemicals that form explosive levels of peroxides without concentration | ||
| Butadienea | Isopropyl ether | Sodium amide (sodamide) |
| Chloroprenea | Potassium metal | Tetrafluoroethylenea |
| Divinylacetylene | Potassium amide | Vinylidene chloride |
| B. Chemicals that form explosive levels of peroxides on concentration | ||
| Acetal | Diethyl ether | 4-Methyl-2-pentanol |
| Acetaldehyde | Diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (diglyme) | 2-Pentanol |
| Benzyl alcohol | Dioxanes | 4-Penten-1-ol |
| 2-Butanol | Ethylene glycol dimethyl ether (glyme) | 1-Phenylethanol |
| Cumene | 4-Heptanol | 2-Phenylethanol |
| 2-Cyclohexen-1-ol | 2-Hexanol | 2-Propanol (99%+ or anhydrous) |
| Cyclohexene | Methylacetylene | Tetrahydrofuran |
| Decahydronaphthalene | 3-Methyl-1-butanol | Tetrahydronaphthalene |
| Diacetylene | Methylcyclopentane | Vinyl ethers |
| Dicyclopentadiene | Methyl isobutyl ketone | Other secondary alcohols |
| C. Chemicals that may autopolymerize as a result of peroxide accumulation | ||
| Acrylic acidb | Methyl methacrylateb | Vinyl chloride |
| Acrylonitrileb | Styrene | Vinylpyridine |
| Butadienec | Tetrafluoroethylenec | Vinyladiene chloride |
| Chloroprenec | Vinyl acetate | |
| Chlorotrifluoroethylene | Vinylacetylene | |
D. Chemicals that may form peroxides but cannot clearly be placed in sections A-C | ||
| Acrolein | p-Chlorophenetole | 4,5-Hexadien-2-yn-1-ol |
| Allyl etherd | Cyclooctened | n-Hexyl ether |
| Allyl ethyl ether | Cyclopropyl methyl ether | o,p-Iodophenetole |
| Allyl phenyl ether | Diallyl etherd | Isoamyl benzyl etherd |
| p-(n-Amyloxy)benzoyl chloride | p-Di-n-butoxybenzene | Isoamyl etherd |
| n-Amyl ether | 1,2-Dibenzyloxyethaned | Isobutyl vinyl ether |
| Benzyl n-butyl etherd | p-Dibenzyloxybenzened | Isophoroned |
| Benzyl etherd | 1,2-Dichloroethyl ethyl Ether | B-Isopropoxypropionitriled |
| Benzyl ethyl etherd | 2,4-Dichlorophenetole | Isopropyl 2,4,5-trichloro- phenoxy- acetate |
| Benzyl methyl ether | Diethoxymethaned | Limonene |
| Benzyl 1-napthyl etherd | 2,2-Diethoxypropane | 1,5-p-Methadiene |
| 1,2-Bis(2-chloroethoxy) Ethane | Diethyl ethoxymethylene- Malonate | Methyl p-(n-amyloxy)- benzoate |
| Bis(2 ethoxyethyl)ether | Diethyl fumarated | 4-Methyl-2-pentanone |
| Bis(2-(methoxyethoxy)- ethyl) ether | Diethyl acetald | n-Methylphenetole |
| Bis(2-chloroethyl)ether | Diethyketenef | 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran |
| Bis(2-ethoxyethyl)adipate | m,o,p-diethoxybenzene | 3-Methoxy-1-butyl acetate |
| Bis(2-ethoxyethyl)phthalate | 1,2-Diethoxyethane | 2-Methoxyethanol |
| Bis(2-methoxyethyl)- Carbonate | Dimethoxymethaned | 3-Methoxyethyl acetate |
| Bis(2-methoxyethyl) ether | 1,1-Dimethoxyethaned | 2-Methoxyethyl vinyl ether |
| Bis(2-methoxyethyl) Phthalate | Dimethylketenef | Methonxy-1,3,5,7-cyclo- octa-tetraene |
| Bis(2-methoxymethyl) Adipate | 3,3-Dimethoxypropene | B-Methoxypropionitrile |
| Bis(2-n-butoxyethyl) Phthalate | 2,4-Dinitrophenetole | m-Nitrophenetole |
| Bis(2-phenoxyethyl) ether | 1,3-Dioxepaned | 1-Octene |
| Bis(4-chlorobutyl) ether | Di(1-propynyl)etherf | Oxybis(2-ethyl acetate) |
| Bis(chloromethyl) ethere | Di(2-propynyl)ether | Oxybis(2-ethyl benzoate) |
| 2-Bromomethyl ethyl ether | Di-n-propoxymethaned | B,B-oxydipropionitrile |
| B-Bromophenetole | 1,2-Epoxy-3-isopropoxy- propaned | 1-Pentene |
| o-Bromophenetole | 1,2-Epoxy-3-phenoxy- propane | Phenoxyacetyl chloride |
| p-Bromophenetole | p-Ethoxyacethophenone | a-Phenoxypropionyl chloride |
| 3-Bromopropyl phenyl ether | 2-Ethoxyethyl acetate | Phenyl o-propyl ether |
| 1,3-Butadiyne | (2-Ethoxyethyl)-o-benzoyl benzoate | p-Phenylphenetone |
| Buten-3-yne | 1-(2-Ethoxyethoxy)ethyl acetate | n-Propyl ether |
| tert-Butyl ethyl ether | 1-Ethoxynaphthalene | n-Propyl isopropyl ether |
| tert-Butyl methyl ether | o,p-Ethoxyphenyl isocyanate | Sodium 8,11,14-eicosa- tetraenoate |
| n-Butyl phenyl ether | 1-Ethoxy-2-propyne | Sodium ethoxyacetylidef |
| n-Butyl vinyl ether | 3-Ethoxyopropionitrile | Tetrahydropyran |
| Chloroacetaldehyde diethylacetald | 2-Ethylacrylaldehyde oxime | Triethylene glycol diacetate |
| 2-Chlorobutadiene | 2-Ethylbutanol | Triethylene glycol diprop- ionate |
| 1-(2-Chloroethoxy)-2- phen-oxyethane | Ethyl B-ethoxypropionate | 1,3,3-Trimethoxypropened |
| Chloroethylene | 2-Ethylhexanal | 1,1,2,3-Tetrachloro-1,3- butadiene |
| Chloromethyl methyl ethere | Ethyl vinyl ether | 4-Vinyl cyclohexene |
| B-Chlorophenetole | Furan | Vinylene carbonate |
| o-Chlorophenetole | 2,5-Hexadiyn-1-ol | Vinylidene chlorided |
| NOTES: a When stored as a liquid monomer. b Although these chemicals form peroxides, no explosions involving these monomers have been reported. c When stored in liquid form, these chemicals form explosive levels of peroxides without concentration. They may also be stored as a gas in gas cylinders. When stored as a gas, these chemicals may autopolymerize as a result of peroxide accumulation. d These chemicals easily form peroxides and should probably be considered under Part B. e OSHA - regulated carcinogen. f Extremely reactive and unstable compound. | ||
References: Prudent Practices in the Laboratory, National Research Council, 1995.“Review of Safety Guidelines for Peroxidizable Organic Chemicals,” Chemical Healthand Safety, September/October 1996.