Hi Sandra,
I'm not sure if this is true for all peroxide test strips, but the
ones that we use require the pH to be between
2 and 12.5. The instruction sheet lists a procedure for how to extract
;a sample and manipulate the pH with buffers if the chemical isn't in tha
t pH range.
If your school has a hazardous waste disposal contractor that they regularl
y use, you could call them and ask about their peroxide former disposal g
uidelines. Different companies can accept different concentrations of perox
ides and might require different stabilization methods. Some contractors ha
ve high haz teams that can inspect, stabilize, and dispose of the chemi
cal for you. If we get peroxide formers that show signs of crystallization
or spike for high levels of peroxides, we leave the bottle undisturbed an
d call our contractor's high haz team.
The Desert Research Institute and the National Safety Council both have exc
ellent peroxide former handling/testing SOPs that include informatio
n on visual inspections, PPE requirements during testing,
;and disposal timetables for various peroxide formers. DRI lists THF's sa
fe shelf life as 12 months after opening, so I would definitely be carefu
l handling this container.
Thanks,
Cat Conley
Roger Williams University
I have a colleague who needs to dispose of NaOH (about 1M) in 50:50 THF/water which has turned
orange after 1-2 years. Any thoughts? For example will a peroxide test be accurate in the presence of the NaOH? Would it be safe to
neutralize the NaOH? <
/P>
Thanks,
Sandra Koster
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse