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Topic: Disposal of peroxide-forming chemicals  (Read 2851 times)

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Offline almfranc

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Disposal of peroxide-forming chemicals
« on: April 19, 2013, 04:09:41 PM »
Trying to purify a polymer sample and the protocol calls for tert-butyl-methyl ether (MTBE). I'm safety officer for the lab and I need to know if I can dispose of the excess ether in the standard organic solvent waste; this is a peroxide-forming chemical and it would be pretty poor policy if I improperly disposed of this and caused an explosion. Suggestions?

Offline Corribus

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Re: Disposal of peroxide-forming chemicals
« Reply #1 on: April 19, 2013, 04:27:58 PM »
As far as I  understand, MTBE doesn't form peroxides as readily as other ethers.  Especially if you're diluting it with other solvents.  I know this is why it's the ether of choice for many industrial applications.
What men are poets who can speak of Jupiter if he were like a man, but if he is an immense spinning sphere of methane and ammonia must be silent?  - Richard P. Feynman

Offline almfranc

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Re: Disposal of peroxide-forming chemicals
« Reply #2 on: April 19, 2013, 05:40:09 PM »
Thank you! Contacted the waste disposal company and they didn't seem too guffed about it. Seems the ether will be sufficiently diluted in the other organic solvents. Problem = solved (or solvated, depending on how you look at it!)

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