Hydrogen peroxide

Storage stability and reactivity towards container material

Administrative data

Endpoint:

storage stability and reactivity towards container material

Type of information:

other: expert statement

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Although there is no experimental data presented to support the expert statement, there seems to be sufficient evidence from experiences in handling the substance in the past to come to the conclusion.

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

review article or handbook

Title:

Hydrogen peroxide

Author:

Goor G, Kunkel W, Weiberg O

Year:

1989

Bibliographic source:

In: Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 5th completely revised edition, Elvers B, Hawkins S, Ravenscroft M and Schulz G (eds), VCH, Weinheim, Vol. A 13, p. 444

Materials and methods

GLP compliance:

no

Test material

Test material information

1

Reference substance name:

Hydrogen peroxide

EC Number:

231-765-0

EC Name:

Hydrogen peroxide

Cas Number:

7722-84-1

Molecular formula:

H2O2

IUPAC Name:

hydrogen peroxide

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Executive summary:

The following text is copied from Goor et al. (1989), page 461:

"The decomposition of hydrogen peroxide caused by catalytic impurities and the associated release of heat have been described in Chapters 2 and 3. Great care must be taken in production, storage, and transportation to prevent these impurities from entering the hydrogen peroxide solution and to ensure that hydrogen peroxide is put only into perfectly clean containers. Because commercial hydrogen peroxide always contains small quantities of catalytic impurities, the stabilization of peroxide solutions is extremely important. The stabilizing effects of inorganic and organic compounds are described in detail in [3].

Sodium pyrophosphate [7722 -88 -5] and sodium stannate [12058 -66 -1] are the preferred stabilizers and are added separately or together [112], [113]. Organic compounds are not stable enough for use with concentrated hydrogen peroxide; they are preferred for dilute solutions [114], [115].

Aluminium (99.5 %), aluminium-magnesium alloys, or stainless steels are good construction materials. Because of their corrosion resistance, polyethylene containers and storage tanks are preferred for hydrogen peroxide concentrations up to 50 wt %. Before metallic tanks and containers can be used, their surfaces must be passivated. Iron particles may become attached to the surface during the rolling of aluminium, and they must be removed. Aluminium is, therefore, treated with dilute sodium hydroxide, safety precautions must be taken to avoid detonating gas atmosphere. It is extremely important to ensure that no hydrogen peroxide is trapped, e.g. between closed valves. If decomposition occurs, extremely high pressures result which lead to very serious explosions."