Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2010 08:58:49 -0400
Reply-To: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: "Bell,Martin" <mwb32**At_Symbol_Here**DREXEL.EDU>
Subject: Re: Peroxide Question
In-Reply-To: <6447982AF8C7D74A884FF886917E71C3075E7C1A**At_Symbol_Here**hermes.ic.edu>

We utilize a high hazard deactivation specialist to deactivate peroxide con
taining materials. The specialist utilizes a hydraulic remote opening devic
e to open expired peroxide forming chemicals. Once the container is open th
e material is deactivated using ferrous salts, amines, aqueous sodium metab
isulfite and stannous chloride, and sodium hydroxide. The deactivation mate
rial will depend on the type of peroxide former. Our hazardous waste hauler
 accepts the material once it is deactivated.    

Martin W. Bell, CSP CHMM
=A0
Drexel University
Department of Environmental Health and Safety=A0
Environmental Health and Safety Manager
=A0
Telephone=A0=A0 : 215-895-5892
Cell Number: 215-778-4278
Fax Number: 215-895-5926

-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of An
drew Stice
Sent: Monday, September 20, 2010 7:46 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Peroxide Question

So, if your waste hauler won't accept bottles with greater than 10ppm,
then what do you do with those bottles that are over 10ppm?

-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of
Karen Smith
Sent: Monday, September 20, 2010 6:18 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Peroxide Question

Our waste handler won't accept bottles over 10ppm peroxide, therefore  
that's my limit.

Karen Smith, CSMM
Chemical Hygiene Officer/ Lab Coordiantor
Whitman College
345 Boyer Ave.
Walla Walla, WA 99362
509 527-5272



On Sep 20, 2010, at 12:10 PM, Johnson, Amy Carr wrote:

> Here is a link to the article from which the excerpt below was taken  
> regarding safe levels of peroxides
http://www.bnl.gov/esh/cms/PDF/peroxides.pdf
>
>
>
> "Kelly (7) reviewed the literature to determine the minimum  
> hazardous concentration of peroxides in solution
> with organic solvents. Peroxide concentration of 100 ppm has been  
> widely used as a control point, but lacks
> scientific justification and is probably based on the practical  
> detection limit of the potassium iodide method. Kelly
> reported great disparity (range 50-10,000 ppm as hydrogen peroxide)  
> between various references. There was little
> agreement between authors and none provided supporting data. The  
> highest level (10,000 ppm) was found in a
> National Safety Council publication (16). However, the NSC  
> publication included no supporting references for the
> latter statement or the NSC recommendation for administrative  
> control value of 100 ppm.
> The Material Safety Data Sheet for diethyl ether cautions against  
> concentrating ether containing peroxide level
> above 100 ppm (10). Presumably, instability and hazard increase with  
> concentration such that at some point, the
> solution spontaneously explodes. Kelly suggested that it is likely  
> that the control concentration of 100ppm, in some
> cases may be overly conservative by at least an order of magnitude.  
> This may apply to the chemicals listed in Table
> 1-B unless the unstable materials are concentrated as result of  
> solvent evaporation (7).
> Kelly (7) stated that "theoretically, explosion should be impossible  
> for most solutions of <1% peroxides."
> However, to rationally establish a safe/hazard concentration is  
> complicated by a number of factors. For example,
> some of the liquid may remain on the threads and cap when  
> peroxidized liquids are dispensed from glass containers
> with screw-caps or with ground-glass stoppers. As the solvent  
> evaporates, the peroxide can be concentrated to
> dangerous levels within in the threads of the cap. Thus, a volatile  
> solvent containing relatively low peroxide
> contamination could explode because of peroxide concentration at the  
> cap (3, 7). Dilute solutions of most
> peroxidizable chemicals or solutions in solvents with low volatility  
> (B.P. > 300 o C or V.P. <0.1 mm Hg at 20 o C)
> usually do not pose a peroxide hazard and are not likely to  
> concentrate. Thus, it is usually unnecessary to treat such
> solutions as peroxide hazards (3, 5).
> Some of the peroxidation products of the chemicals in Group A (Table  
> 1) are less structurally stabile than those
> in Group B. Thus even peroxide concentrations of less than 100 ppm  
> should be considered very hazardous.
> Unstabilized isopropyl ether can readily form highly unstable  
> peroxides. Even low small concentrations produced
> through solvent evaporation are very dangerous and may explode on  
> shaking (33). The temperature and
> concentration at which explosion of peroxides of isopropyl ether  
> becomes probable has never been authoritatively
> stated (20)."
>
> Hope this helps-
> From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On  
> Behalf Of Bill Galdenzi
> Sent: Friday, September 17, 2010 9:17 AM
> To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
> Subject: [DCHAS-L] Peroxide Question
>
> All,
>
> I have a question:   What concentration of peroxide do you folks use  
> for your "acceptable" level?   What is the basis for this level?
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Bill Galdenzi
> Environmental, Health, and Safety
> Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharamceuticals
> (203) 778-7759
> bill.galdenzi**At_Symbol_Here**boehringer-ingelheim.com
>

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