Time Sensitive Chemicals
SAFE STORAGE PERIODS FOR PEROXIDE FORMERS
Unopened chemicals from manufacturer
18 months or (expiration date)
Opened containers:
Chemicals in Table A
3 months
Chemicals in Tables B and D
12 months
Uninhibited chemicals in Table C
12 months
Inhibited chemicals in Table C
12 months
(Do not store under an inert atmosphere)
A. Chemicals that form explosive levels of peroxides without concentration
Divinyl acetylene
Potassium amide
Vinylidene chloride
Divinyl ether
Potassium metal
Isopropyl ether
Sodium amide (sodamide)
B. Chemicals that form explosive levels of peroxides on concentration
Acetal
Dioxanes
t-Butyl alcohol
Cyclohexane
Ethyl ether
Vinyl ethers
Cyclooctene
Ethylene glycol dimethyl
ether (glyme)
Cyclopentene
Ethylene glycol monoethers
(cellosolves)
Cumene
Furan
Diacetylene
Methyl acetylene
Decahydronaphthalene
Methylcyclopentane
Dicyclopentadiene
Methyl isobutyl ketone
Diethyl ether
Tetrahydrofuran (THF)
Diethylene glycol dimethyl
Tetrahydronaphthalene
ether (diglyme)
C. Chemicals that may autopolymerize as a result of peroxide accumulation
b
Dibenzocyclopentadiene
Vinyl acetate
Acrylic acid
Acrylonitrile
b
c
Butadiene
c
Chloroprene
Chlorotrifluoroethylene
Methyl methacrylate
Styrene
Tetrafluoroethylene
b
c
Vinyl acetylene
Vinyl chloride
Vinyl pyridine
Vinylidene chloride
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
d
d
n-Hexyl ether
Allyl ether
Cyclooctene
Allyl ethyl ether
Cyclopropyl methyl ether
o,p-Iodophenetole
D. Chemicals that may form peroxides but cannot clearly be placed in sections A-C
d
d
Allyl phenyl ether
Diallyl ether
Isoamyl benzyl ether
p-(n-Amyloxy)benzoyl
p-Di-n-butoxybenzene
chloride
n-Amyl ether
1,2-Dibenzyloxyethane
Benzyl n-butyl ether
Benzyl ether
d
p-Dibenzyloxybenzene
d
Isobutyl vinyl ether
d
Isophorone
1,2-Dichloroethyl ethyl
Ether
2,4-Dichlorophenetole
d
Benzyl ethyl ether
Isoamyl etherd
d
Diethoxymethaned
2,2-Diethoxypropane
Benzyl methyl ether
d
Benzyl 1-napthyl ether
1,2-Bis(2-chloroethoxy)
Ethane
Bis(2 ethoxyethyl)ether
Diethyl ethoxymethyleneMalonate
Diethyl fumarate
Bis(2-(methoxyethoxy)ethyl) ether
Bis(2-chloroethyl)ether
2-Methyltetrahydrofuran
Dimethoxymethane
d
1,1-Dimethoxyethane
Dimethylketene
Bis(4-chlorobutyl) ether
Di(1-propynyl)ether
Di(2-propynyl)ether
e
B-Bromophenetole
o-Bromophenetole
p-Bromophenetole
3-Bromopropyl phenyl ether
1,3-Butadiyne
Methyl p-(n-amyloxy)benzoate
4-Methyl-2-pentanone
f
Diethyketene
m,o,p-diethoxybenzene
1,2-Diethoxyethane
d
3-Methoxy-1-butyl acetate
2-Methoxyethanol
3-Methoxyethyl acetate
2-Methoxyethyl vinyl ether
3,3-Dimethoxypropene
Methonxy-1,3,5,7-cycloocta-tetraene
B-Methoxypropionitrile
2,4-Dinitrophenetole
m-Nitrophenetole
f
1,3-Dioxepane
d
Isopropyl 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy- acetate
Limonene
1,5-p-Methadiene
n-Methylphenetole
Bis(2-methoxyethyl)
Phthalate
Bis(2-methoxymethyl)
Adipate
Bis(2-n-butoxyethyl)
Phthalate
Bis(2-phenoxyethyl) ether
Bis(chloromethyl) ether
2-Bromomethyl ethyl ether
B-Isopropoxypropionitrile
d
Diethyl acetal
Bis(2-ethoxyethyl)adipate
Bis(2-ethoxyethyl)phthalate
Bis(2-methoxyethyl)Carbonate
Bis(2-methoxyethyl) ether
d
d
1-Octene
d
Oxybis(2-ethyl acetate)
f
Oxybis(2-ethyl benzoate)
d
Di-n-propoxymethane
1,2-Epoxy-3-isopropoxypropaned
1,2-Epoxy-3-phenoxypropane
p-Ethoxyacethophenone
2-Ethoxyethyl acetate
(2-Ethoxyethyl)-o-benzoyl
Benzoate
B,B-oxydipropionitrile
1-Pentene
Phenoxyacetyl chloride
a-Phenoxypropionyl chloride
Phenyl o-propyl ether
p-Phenylphenetone
D. Chemicals that may form peroxides but cannot clearly be placed in sections A-C
Buten-3-yne
1-(2-Ethoxyethoxy)ethyl
n-Propyl ether
acetate
tert-Butyl ethyl ether
1-Ethoxynaphthalene
n-Propyl isopropyl ether
tert-Butyl methyl ether
o,p-Ethoxyphenyl
Sodium 8,11,14-eicosaisocyanate
tetraenoate
n-Butyl phenyl ether
1-Ethoxy-2-propyne
n-Butyl vinyl ether
3-Ethoxyopropionitrile
2-Ethylacrylaldehyde oxime
Chloroacetaldehyde
diethylacetald
2-Chlorobutadiene
1-(2-Chloroethoxy)-2phen-oxyethane
Chloroethylene
Chloromethyl methyl ether
B-Chlorophenetole
o-Chlorophenetole
g
Chloroform
Picric acid (when dry)
a
2-Ethylbutanol
Triethylene glycol dipropionate
Ethyl B-ethoxypropionate
1,3,3-Trimethoxypropene
2-Ethylhexanal
Ethyl vinyl ether
1,1,2,3-Tetrachloro-1,3butadiene
4-Vinyl cyclohexene
2,5-Hexadiyn-1-ol
Vinylene carbonate
c
d
d
E. Other Chemicals of Concern
Picryl Chloride (when dry)
Picrylsulfonic acid (when dry)
Sodium azide (on contact with
metals)
NOTES:
When stored as a liquid monomer.
b
e
e
f
Sodium ethoxyacetylide
Tetrahydropyran
Triethylene glycol diacetate
Although these chemicals form peroxides, no explosions involving these
monomers have been reported.
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.
These chemicals easily form peroxides and should probably be considered
under Part B.
OSHA - regulated carcinogen.
f
Extremely reactive and unstable compound.
g
Can form phosgene on contact with air. Dispose of after 1 year after opening.
References:
Prudent Practices in the Laboratory, National Research Council, 1995.
“Review of Safety Guidelines for Peroxidizable Organic Chemicals,” Chemical Health
and Safety, September/October 1996.