Appendix I: Common Chemicals That Are Likely to Form Peroxides During Storage (this list is not exhaustive)

Class A contains materials that readily form explosive peroxides without evaporative concentration. They should be tested for the presence of peroxides at least every three months after opening and if tested positive should be disposed of


 

Butadiene

Chlorobutadiene (Chloroprene)

Divinyl acetylene

Divinyl ether

Isopropyl ether

Potassium amide

Potassium metal

Sodium amide (sodamide)

Tetrafluoroethylene

Vinylidene chloride


 

Class II contains materials that peroxidize but become hazardous only on evaporative concentration. They should be tested at least once a year after opening and disposed of if peroxides are detected.


Acetal

4-Heptanol

Acetaldehyde

2-Hexanol

Benzyl alcohol

Methylacetylene

2-Butanol

3-Methyl-1-butanol

Cumene

Methylcyclopentane

Cyclohexanol

Methyl isobutyl ketone

2-Cyclohexen-1-ol

4-Methyl-2-pentanol

Cyclohexene

2-Pentanol

Decahydronaphthalene

4-Penten-1-ol

Diacetylene

1-Penylethanol

Dicyclopentadiene

2-Phenylethanol

Diethyl ether

2-Propanol

Diethylene glycol

Tetrahydrofuran

Dimethyl ether (diglyme)

Tetrahydronaphthalene

Dioxanes

Vinyl Ethers

Ethylene glycol dimethyl ether (glyme)

Other secondary alcohols


Class I contains peroxidizable materials that also can polymerize exothermically when initiated by the peroxide content. Testing and disposal requirements are the same as for Class II.


Acrylic acid

Acrylonitrile

Butadiene

Chloroprene

Chlorotrifluoroethylene

Methyl methacrylate

Styrene

Tetrafluoroethylene

Vinyl acetate

Vinylacetylene

Vinyl chloride

Vinylpyridine

Vinyladiene chloride

 


References:

Improving Safety in the Chemical Laboratory: A Practical Guide, J. Young, 1991.

Safety in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Laboratory, A. Picot and P. Grenouillet, 1995.