Our EHS technicians have been noticing a fair number of old-looking containers of ethers in various labs and departments on campus.
Ethers can form dangerous peroxides on exposure to air and light.
If the container has been opened or partially emptied, formation of peroxides is accelerated. Peroxides may detonate with extreme violence when concentrated by evaporation or distillation, when combined with other compounds, or when disturbed by unusual heat, shock or friction. Therefore, for this waste pickup, we are calling for all ethers that have been opened and are more than six months old or have not been opened and are more than a year old. If there is any suspicion that peroxides are present, especially crystals observed in the liquid or around the cap, do not open the container or otherwise disturb the contents. Call EHS at 8-5294 for evaluation and disposal.