Classes of Peroxidizable chemicals
A. Chemicals that form explosive levels of peroxides without concentration
Butadiene | Divinylacetylene | Tetrafluoroethylene | Vinylidene chloride |
Chloroprene | Isopropyl ether | Potassium metal | Potassium amide |
Sodium amide |
Peroxide hazard after prolonged storage. Test for peroxide formation or discard after 3 months.
B. Chemicals that form explosive levels of peroxides on concentration e.g. Distillation of Diethyl ether
Acetal | Cyclopentene | 2-Hexanol | 2-Phenylethanol |
Acetaldehyde | Decahydronaphthalene | Methylacetylene | 2-Propanol |
Benzyl alcohol | Diacetylene | 3-Methyl-1-butanol | Tetrahydrofuran |
2-Butanol | Dicyclopentadiene | Methylcyclopentane | Tetrahydronaphthalene |
Cumen | Diethyl ether | Methyl isobutyl ketone | Vinyl ethers |
Cyclohexane | Diethylene glycol dimethyl ether | 4-Methyl-2-pentanol | Other secondary alcohols |
Cyclohexanol | Dioxanes | 2-Pentanol | 2-Cyclohexen-1-ol |
Ethylene glycol dimethyl ether | 4-Penten-1-ol | Cyclohexene | 4-Heptanol |
1-Phenylethanol |
Test for peroxide formation or discard after 1 year
C. Chemicals that may autopolymerize as a result of peroxide accumulation
Acrylic acid | Chlorotrifluoroethylene | Vinyl acetate | Vinyladiene chloride |
Acrylonitrile | Methyl methacrylate | Vinylacetylene | Butadiene |
Styrene | Vinyl chloride | Chlorobutadiene | Tetrafluoroethylene |
Vinylpyridine |
Tests for peroxide formation or discard after 1 year.
References:
- Review of Safety Guidelines for Peroxidizable Organic Chemicals, Chemical Health and Safety, Sept/Oct: American Chemical Society, 1996
- Jackson, J. Chem. Ed., 1970