I have considerable information on peroxides as well as links to some 
academic sites here: http://www.ilpi.com/msds/ref/peroxide.html   I 
suspect you won't find any publicly-accessible procedures at 
corporate web sites given the litigious climate in which we live.

The peroxide-forming process is free radical (see link above), so 
keeping the bottles away from light and heat is generally a good 
idea.  I suspect that some peroxide-forming liquids could precipitate 
the solid peroxide when refrigerated, posing a shock-sensitivity risk.

In addition, refrigerating bottles of peroxide-formers could cause 
the bottles to "breathe" more than if they were stored at ambient 
temperature.  That is, a room temperature bottle placed in the fridge 
will have a negative internal pressure when it cools, drawing in more 
water vapor and oxygen.

That said, it really depends on a case-by-case basis on whether to 
refrigerate.   The manufacturer's recommendations and MSDS should be 
your guide.

In my labs we never stored inhibitor-removed THF, ether etc. for any 
period of time, except in our oxygen-free glove boxes or vessels that 
were sealed with high vacuum stopcocks.   All chemicals should be 
dated when they are purchased and when they are opened.  A big red 
"Use by" date on any peroxide-former is an excellent idea.

Best regards,

Rob Toreki

>Going through old emails, I came by this one which is pertinent to a
>discussion going on here.
>
>I would appreciate background on why storing peroxide formers cold is a
>bad idea.
>
>I would also appreciate hearing about policies at other institutions,
>especially corporate, on storage and on timed disposal.  At a former
>employer we had very stringent rules on ether and THF in particular.
>What other solvents are in similar category besides di-isopropylether.
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Lee Latimer
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of
>Samuella B. Sigmann
>Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2007 6:18 AM
>To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
>Subject: [DCHAS-L] Storage of Peroxide Formers
>
>The general storage protocol for diethyl ether, THF, etc. here in our
>department has always been in refrigerators for designed for
>flammables.  I am trying to educate the faculty about the hazards
>associated with the practice of refrigerating peroxide formers.  Any
>advice about what to say when confronted with, "...but I have always
>done this and never had a problem."
>
>Thanks in advance,
>Sammye
>--
>
>************************************************************************
>***************
>
>The Washington Post's Style Invitational asked readers to take any word
>from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one
>letter, and supply a new definition.
>
>*Dopeler** effect*: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when
>they come at you rapidly.
>
>
>Samuella B. Sigmann
>
>Lecturer/Safety Committee Chair
>
>A. R. Smith Department of Chemistry
>
>Appalachian State University
>
>525 Rivers Street
>
>Boone, NC   28608
>
>Phone: 828 262 2755
>
>Fax: 828 262 6558
>
>Email: sigmannsb**At_Symbol_Here**appstate.edu 

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