An Introduction to Peroxide Formers Presented by: Ted Dubiel, Quality Manager
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An Introduction to
Peroxide Formers
Presented by:
Ted Dubiel, Quality Manager
About Ted Dubiel
• Over 16 years
peroxide former and
high haz management
experience
• Head of New England
Technical Lab
Services Division and
company reactives
program
Managing Your Program
• Overview
• Regulations
• Program Implementation
• Program Management
Overview
• Chemicals may form explosive peroxides for a variety of
reasons becoming shock sensitive
• Can pose a threat to health and safety
• Removal is expensive
• In most cases, not currently managed under a structured
program
Overview
• Energetic materials do
not age well
• Routine use can
accelerate the chemical
breakdown
• Changes in the material’s
form, color, or state
require investigation
Poll QuestionWhat is your greatest need in terms of
peroxide former management?
The Chemicals
• Ethyl Ether
• Tetrahydrofuran
• Isopropyl Ether
• 1,4 Dioxane
• Sodium Amide
Common Peroxide Formers:
Overview• Five types of stimuli to which an
explosive will react:
Electrostatic discharge
Friction
Impact
Heat
Shock
• Safety needs to be increased as
energetic materials age
Regulation/Guidelines• OSHA- General Duty Clause
• NFPA- Peroxide former storage, Fire
Department enforcement
• State Department of Environmental Protection -
Treatment permits (if necessary)
Regulation/Guidelines
• Perform the work off-hours
• Have a secure location to move to
• Isolate areas that you will pass through with the
material
Stabilization of High
Hazard Material• Information is the key:
Commercial products are relatively easy to stabilize
because of the availability of information.
MSDS’s usually (but not always) have solubility information
on them.
Chemical intermediates are more difficult.
Must use trade journals or “recipes” with general chemistry
knowledge to determine appropriate solvent.
How Do You Avoid
All This?
Management of High
Hazard Chemicals• 95% of all remote openings
can be avoided.
• They usually result from
three things:
Improper storage
No preventative maintenance
Bulk purchasing
Management of High
Hazard Chemicals
The Challenge: Develop a standard
operating procedure (SOP) that collects the
information you want and prevents small
bottles from becoming budget shattering
events.
High Hazard SOP’s
• Find easy ways to collect
information.
• Work with researchers.
• Make tracking/labeling easy.
• Give staff a reason why these
things must be done (Ex. Fire
dept. requires inventory).
• Create management
systems that cover the
use, maintenance, and
purchasing of those
materials that could
become unstable.
• This will prevent and
prohibit activities that
create problems.
Management of High
Hazard Chemicals
Management of High
Hazard Chemicals
• Management systems can include:
Who can purchase such materials
The largest amount that can be purchased
Inventory tracking of material
How and where these materials will be stored
After what time the chemicals will be disposed
Who will enforce the system and what the
penalty will be
Management of Peroxide
Forming Chemicals• Many of the goals of the system can be accomplished
with the existing staff.
• Use people at key points in the process of ordering and
receiving chemicals.
Purchasing and Receiving - This covers who is using
the material and how much.
Chemical Hygiene Plan - This will cover authorized
procedures.
Management of High
Hazard Chemicals
• Labs should be inspected
routinely by lab personnel
specifically for peroxide
forming chemicals.
• Periodic inspections by
EH&S
High Hazard SOP’s• Get them to document their
high hazard materials on an email format or web-based form.
• Create a similar inspection form for high hazard materials that must be submitted on some schedule.
• Look at the forms and give feedback.
High Hazard SOP’s• You can never provide too much
information to the lab.
All lab staff know of peroxides in ether. Not many know what causes this to happen (conditions and use).
• Attempt to get into lab meetings at least monthly with this type of information.
• Let them know the potential safety issues to the individual.
• Large University in Boston Area
Quarterly lab evaluations
• Entire campus walk through
Report created
Material evaluated for disposal
• Large Biotech in Boston Area
Entered received date upon receipt into
chemical inventory
Report created showing material at or over
1 year
Annual walk through
Material removed for disposal
• Large Hospital in Boston Area
All material captured in chemical inventory
Identified the peroxide formers
Went to labs evaluated/ tested material
Material removed for disposal
• Research/Manufacturing New York
Area
Walked through facility
Identify potential peroxide formers
Material tested/removed for disposal
• Research/Manufacturing Baltimore
Area
Reviewing/updating chemical inventory
Identify potential peroxide formers
Annual walk through
Material removed for disposal
Thank You!
1-888-TEI-WOWS www.triumvirate.com
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