DCHAS-L Discussion List Archive

Debbie,

Please, NEVER EVER open a container that you even slightly suspect might
maybe contain ether peroxide.

If you do, and if it did contain ether peroxide, you can blow your arm
off and have a nice big hole in your belly.  In my personal experience,
this happened to a young man with an "empty" container.

Fortunately, he survived -- after several weeks in the hospital.

Jay Young



On Fri, 29 Apr 2005 11:29:10 -0700 Debbie Decker 
writes:
> At 12:38 PM 4/29/2005 -0500, you wrote:
> >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.
>
> 
>
> Kent:
>
> Anthony's advice to contract with a reactive chemicals disposal firm
> is
> excellent.  I would add the following couple of details to it.
>
> What the disposal firm needs to do is remotely open the can and add
> a
> suitable solvent (ethanol is probably a good choice)  then reseal
> the can
> and dispose as a flammable liquid lab pack, carefully re-labelling
> it
> according to your local requirements.  I don't know if I'd attempt
> to bulk
> it with other flammable liquids at that point.  If the container
> comes
> apart during the remote opening, well, you've solved your problem,
> haven't you?
>
> Onyx Environmental is a firm we've used - I have no financial or
> personal
> interest in Onyx.
>
> 
>
> Hope this helps,
> Debbie
>
> Debbie M. Decker, Campus Chemical Hygiene Officer
> Environmental Health and Safety
> University of California, Davis
> 1 Shields Ave.
> Davis, CA  95616
> (530)754-7964/(530)752-4527 (FAX)
> dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu
> Co-Conspirator to Make the World A
> Better Place -- Visit www.HeroicStories.com and join the conspiracy
>
>