Thanks Rob. The latter website has some good information on the science.

Kent

On 4/29/2005 1:01 PM, ILPI wrote:

> The crystals (if they are really present, of course) can can detonate
> all by themselves. Inside a metal can with a relatively narrow
> opening, this could produce some serious shrapnel.
>
> See here: http://home.cyberave.com/~rhr/ether.htm They might be good
> folks to talk to about this.
>
> Additional pictures and information about peroxides is available
> here: http://www.ilpi.com/msds/ref/peroxide.html
>
> Rob Toreki
>
>> Scenario: Ethyl ether in metal container that is over 10 years old.
>> Peroxide content unknown. Container is empty (<3%) to the best of our
>> knowledge. Cap is clear plastic with no visible signs of peroxides.
>> Understand that peroxides can concentrate as the ether evaporates.
>>
>> Setting: High school chemical storage room. Lab pack team has been in
>> to pack chemicals and left the ethyl ether behind because of its
>> potential explosiveness.
>>
>> Questions: How dangerous is this empty can? Does it have to be treated
>> as a hazardous waste? Our understanding is that the peroxide crystals
>> themselves do not have considerable detonation force without the
>> contents of the ether. The ether acts as the fuel for the explosion.
>> Can the empty container go in the normal trash.
>>
>> Your thoughts and comments are appreciated. We have been struggling
>> with this issue; how to deal with legacy empty ether containers.
>
>
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