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Benzyl alcohol is a peroxide former as reported in this excellent reference on peroxides. Does it make sense that ppm solvent impurities can form ppm levels of peroxide? Weird case. Good luck. Reference: Peroxides and peroxide-forming compounds Donald E. Clark Available online 19 September 2001. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VT3-4417B74-7&_user=1111158&_coverDate=10%2F31%2F2001&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000051676&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1111158&md5=134ddc1e32bad7c5451eae0214db6d94 David E. Erickson, Senior Industrial Hygienist Michigan State University Office of Radiation, Chemical & Biological Safety C-124 Research Complex-Engineering At 12:31 PM 7/10/2007, Lazarski, Peter M. wrote: >A quick check of the Merck Index for benzaldehyde says its made >synthetically "... by oxidation of toluene"; benzyl alcohol "by the >Cannizzaro reaction from benzaldehyde + KOH". Was the toluene supposed >to have been reagent grade or another purity? Any possibility it was >left over or recovered from work performed 6 to 20 years ago? Also, how >was it stored? > > >The information contained in this e-mail message and any attachments may >be confidential. It is intended only for the use of the individual or >entities named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended >recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution >or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have >received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by >e-mail at the originating address. >Peter Lazarski >National Grid USA >Lab. & Testing Svcs., Bldg. 1 >7437 Henry Clay Blvd. >Liverpool, NY 13088 >(315)460-2114 >-----Original Message----- >From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of >Elizabeth Gregory >Sent: Monday, July 09, 2007 4:04 PM >To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU >Subject: [DCHAS-L] Toluene? A peroxide former?! > >Hi everyone, > >Our department finally opened up a 5 gallon metal drum of toluene >earlier >this summer. The drum is somewhere between 6 and 20 years old (you can >imagine why I wanted to see it used up...). > >After a couple of days of "what the %**At_Symbol_Here**&# is this reaction by-product?!", >we've finally figured out that the toluene itself has the following >impurities: benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, and benzyl hydroperoxide(!!!). >The >total concentration of these impurities is about 240 mg/L of solution. > >Has anyone ever heard of toluene forming these products while it's left >sitting around unopened? This is a new one, both to me and our resident >organic chemist. > >Elizabeth Gregory >Laboratory Manager >Department of Chemistry >SUNY College at Brockport >Room 230 Smith Hall >Brockport, NY 14420 >(585) 395-2210 >Fax: (585) 395-5805 >Email: egregory**At_Symbol_Here**brockport.edu > > >******************************************************************************** >This e-mail and any files transmitted with it, are confidential to >National Grid and are intended solely for the use of the individual >or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this >e-mail in error, please reply to this message and let the sender know.