Explosion Hazards of Peroxides in Methyl Cellosolve

Abstract

IN’lI ANY REFERENCES to the dangers of etliei’s that contain peroxides are found in the literature on chemical safety. The peroxide hazards of isopropyl ether, ethyl ether, and other low boiling point ethers are well kllowll. Little is known, however, about the dangers of peroxides ill high l)Oilillg point ethers. A 5-gallon can of methyl cellosolve (ethylene glycol monomethyl ether), which contained peroxides and could not be used, ‘as placed in a cabinet under a sink and forgotten. When rediscovered some 2 years later, it was empty, the contents having either evaporated or leaked out of the can. We asked advice on how to dispose of the can and about the danger, if ally, in handling it. No one, includilig the manufacturer, had knowledge of the product exploding. All of our sources suggested that there was very little danger in handling the can, but they advised caution. The bomb disposal squad of the 13th Ordnance l)etachment, ITS Army, was asked to remove the can and destroy it. At night, when our buildings were not occupied, the can was placed on a padded laboratory cart and taken to a truck which hauled it to the bomb disposal area. A small detonator was used to shock the empty can. The resulting explosion shredded all of the can except the bottom, which it bent badly. A search turned up three small pieces of the sides (or top?) and part of the plastic pouring spout (see figure). We believe that slow evaporation around the cap allowed the ether to escape, concentrating the peroxides ill tile can. We did not attempt