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<p>Hi all,</p>
<p>last Friday we came across a case of white crystal deposits in an dried up specimen jar. The specimens were part of a larger collection that were kept for several decades in isopropanol (2-propanol).</p>
<p>Evaluating the situation, the colleague searched the internet and came across safety warnings that peroxide formation has been observed in isopropanol containers. Recently (2023), MSU issued new safety requirements for 2-propanol storage:
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://ehs.msu.edu/news/2023-01-13-propanol.html">
https://ehs.msu.edu/news/2023-01-13-propanol.html</a></p>
<p>Apparently, there is a high risk for the formation of peroxides in storage containers where isopropanol is kept for > 10 years, which might be even higher in jars that have a history of topping up, for example if alcohol denatured with diethyl ether where
used, or, specimens releasing 3-methyl-1-butanol (many herby and fruits, e.g. hops, mint, rosemary or bananas, zea, apples) or acetaldehyde, because of potentially harmful secondary reactions.
<br>
</p>
<p>Such mixtures may build up in fluid waste containers, where storage fluids that can auto-oxidise under normal storage conditions, could form organic peroxides:
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.bu.edu/ehs/files/2011/01/Management-and-Safety-of-Peroxide-Forming-Chemicals.pdf">
https://www.bu.edu/ehs/files/2011/01/Management-and-Safety-of-Peroxide-Forming-Chemicals.pdf</a></p>
<p>There are quite a few German official websites issued by authorities that caution that isopropanol that has been kept in containers for several years and came in to contact with oxygen can build triacetontriperoxid (also aceton peroxide, triperoxide or TATP)</p>
<p>Has anyone came across similar situations and can share further information?</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>All the best</p>
<p>Dirk<br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.regierung-mv.de/Landesregierung/sm/gesundheit/Arbeitsschutz/Gefahrstoffe%2C-Sprengstoffe%2C-Biostoffe-und-Gentechnik/">https://www.regierung-mv.de/Landesregierung/sm/gesundheit/Arbeitsschutz/Gefahrstoffe%2C-Sprengstoffe%2C-Biostoffe-und-Gentechnik/</a></p>
<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://hlfgp.hessen.de/sites/hlfgp.hessen.de/files/2023-09/merkblatt_abfall_isopropanol_2023-09-08.pdf">https://hlfgp.hessen.de/sites/hlfgp.hessen.de/files/2023-09/merkblatt_abfall_isopropanol_2023-09-08.pdf</a><br>
</p>
<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://bildung.ukrlp.de/fileadmin/ukrlp/daten/pdf/Informationsblaetter/Umgang_mit_ueberlagertem_Isopropanol.pdf">https://bildung.ukrlp.de/fileadmin/ukrlp/daten/pdf/Informationsblaetter/Umgang_mit_ueberlagertem_Isopropanol.pdf</a></p>
<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://naturwissenschaften.bildung-rp.de/fileadmin/user_upload/naturwissenschaften.bildung-rp.de/Sicherheit/Isopropanol/Spontane_Bildung_von_explosiven_Peroxiden.pdf">https://naturwissenschaften.bildung-rp.de/fileadmin/user_upload/naturwissenschaften.bildung-rp.de/Sicherheit/Isopropanol/Spontane_Bildung_von_explosiven_Peroxiden.pdf</a><br>
</p>
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