Explosive Materials Disposal

Definition of Explosives

Explosives are a class of materials, either solids or liquids, that can undergo a rapid chemical decomposition when subject to an external force (shock, friction, sparks, etc.).

The rate of decomposition across the explosive material travels faster than the speed of sound, and produces large amount of heat and gas.

The amount of energy required to initiate this chemical reaction determines the sensitivity and stability of the explosive material.

There are several common laboratory reagents that can become unstable or explosive. Factors that can transform common reagents into explosives may be as simple as extended storage time, increased storage temperatures, or allowing a material to dry out.

What Happens if I Locate an Explosive Material?

Whenever you find or suspect that you have found a potentially explosive material,

DO NOT MOVE THE CONTAINER.
Post a sign, and alert personnel in your area of your discovery.
CONTACT HEALTH & SAFETY 915-5433.

If a peroxidized compound (see list below) forms within a screw cap bottle, some of the potentially explosive material may rest within the threads inside the cap. Unscrewing the cap may initiate an explosion.

When a material is identified as explosive, Health and Safety must take specific precautions to
- Remove the material from high traffic areas,
- Transport the material away from personnel or buildings, and,
- Stabilize, Dilute or Detonate the material.

Additional State and Federal requirements come into play when dealing with explosive materials.
Removal and/or disposal may take an extended period of time to complete.
Please be patient.
We are concerned for your safety, as well as for our own.

Common Explosive Materials

The most Common Explosive and Peroxides forming Materials found on this campus are:

Picric Acid (2,4-Trinitro Phenol) that has become dry
Hydrazine
Dinitro Phenyl Hydrazine
Diethyl Ether (Ethyl Ether)
Dioxane
Isopropyl Ether

For a list of Common Explosive Materials as defined by Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, please follow this LINK.

To see the Laboratory Exemption for Common Explosive Materials as defined by Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, please follow this LINK.

Peroxide Forming Materials Materials These common materials that can form peroxides during extended storage.

Chemicals that form explosive levels of peroxides without concentration:

Butadiene a
Chloroprene a
Divinylacetylene
Isopropyl ether
Tetrafluoroethylene
Vinylidene chloride

Chemicals that form explosive levels of peroxides on concentration:

Acetal Acetaldehyde Benzyl alcohol 2-Butane Cumerie Cyclohexanol 2-Cyclohexen-1-ol Cyclohexene Decahydronaphtalene Diacetylene Dicyclopentadiene Diethyl ether Diethyl glycol dimethyl ether (dyglyme) Dioxanes Ethylene glycol dimethyl ether (glyme) 4 Heptanol 2-Hexanol Methyl 1 -butanol Methylcyclopentane Methyl isobutyl ketone 4-Metho1 2- pentanol 2 Pentanol 4-Pentan-1 ol 1 Phenylethanol 2 Phenylethanol 2 Propanol Tetrahydronaphthalene Vinyl ethers Other secondary alcohols

Chemicals that may autopolymerize as a result of peroxide accumulation:

Acrylic acid b Acrylonitirile b Butadiene c Chloroprene c Methyl Methacrylate b Styrene Tetrafiuoroethylene c Vinyl acetate Vinyl acetylene Vinyl chloride Vinyladiene chloride

When stored as a liquid monomer.
Although these chemicals form peroxides, no explosion involving these monomers have been reported.
When stored in liquid form, these chemicals form explosive levels of peroxides without concentration. They may also be stored as a gas in gas cylinders. When stored as a gas, these chemicals may autopolymerize as a result of peroxide accumulation.
These chemicals easily form peroxides and should probably be considered under part B.
Regulated carcinogen.
Extremely reactive and unstable compounds.

Other Chemicals that may form peroxides:

Acrolein
Allyl ether d
Allyl ethyl ether
p-(n-amyloxy) benzoyl chloride
n-Amyl ether
Benzyl n-butyl ether d
Benzyl ether d
Benzyl ethvl ether d
Benzyl methyl ether
Benzyl 1 napthyl ether
1,2 Bis (2chloroethoxv)ethane
Bis (2-chloroethyl)ether
Bis (2methoxvethoxv)ethyl ether
Bis (2 chloroethyl) ether
Bis (2-methoxvethyl) adipate
Bis (2-ethoxyethyl) phthalate
Bix (2-methoxyethyl) carbonate
Bis (2-methoxyethyl) ether
Bis (2-methoxyethyl) phthalate
Bis (2-methoxymethyl) adipate
Bis (2-butoxyethyl) phthalate
Bis (2-phenoxyethyl) ether
Bis (4-chlorobutyl) ether
Bis (chloromethyl) ether c
2-Bromomethyl ether
3-Bromophenetole
0-Bromophenetole
p-Bromophenetole
3-Bromopropyl phenyl ether
1,3 Butadiene
Buten 3-yne
tert-Butyl ethyl ether
tert-Butyl methyl ether
n-Butyl phenyl ether
n-Butyl vinyl ether
Chloroacetadehyde diethylacetal d
2-Chlorobutadiene
1(2-Chlororethoxy)-2-phenoxyethane
Chloroethylene
Chloromethyl methyl ether c
B-Chlorophenetole
o-Chlorophenetole
Diethyl ethoxymethylnemalonate
Diethyl fumarate d
P-Chlorophenetole
Cyclooctene d
Cyclopropyl methyl ether
Diallyl ether d
p-Di-n-butoxybenzene
1,2 Dichloroethyl ethyl ether
p-Dibenxyloxybenzene d
1, 2 Dichloroethyl ethvl ether
2,4 Dichlorophenetole
Diethoxymethane d
2,2 Diethoxypropane
Diethyl acetal d
Diethylketene f
m, o, p – Diethoxybenzene
1,2 Diethoxymethane
Dimethoxymethane d
1,1 Dimethoxymethane d
Dimethoxyketene f
3,3 Dimethoxpropene
2,4 Dinitrophenetole
1,3 Dioxepane d
Di (1 propynyl) ether
Di (2-propynyl) ether
Di-n-propoxymethane d
1,2 Epoxy 3-isopropoxypropane d
1,2 Epoxy 3-phenoxpropane
p-Ethoxyacetophenone
1-(2-Ethoxyethoxy) ethyl acetate
2-Ethoxyethyl acetate
(2-Ethoxyethyl)-o-benzoyl benzoate
1-Ethoxynaphthalene
o,p,-Ethoxyphenyl isocyanate
1-Ethyoxy-2-propyne
3 -Ethoxyopropionitrile
2-Ethylacrylaldehyde oxime
2-Ethylbutanol
Ethyl B-ethoxypropionate
2-Ethylhexxanal
Ethyl Vinyl Ether
Furan
2,5 Hexadiyn- 1-ol
4.5 Hexadien-2-yn- 1-ol
n-Hexyl ether
o,p-Iodophenetole
Isoamyl benzyl ether d
Isoamyl ether d
Isobutyl vinyl ether
lsophorone d
3-Isopropoxypropiontrile d
Isopropy 1,2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetate
Limonene
1,5-p-Methadiene
Methyl p-(n-amyloxy) benzoate
4-Methyl-2-pentanone
n Methylphenetole
2-Methyltetrahydrofuran
3-Methoxy- l-butyl acetate
2-Methoxyethanol
3-Methoxyethyl acetate
2-Methoxyethyl vinyl ether
Methoxy- 1,3,5,7-cyclooctateraene
B-Methoxypropionitrile
m-Nitrophenetole 1-Octene
Oxybis (2 ethyl acetate)
Oxybis (2-ethyl benzoate)
B,B Oxdipropionitrile
1 -Pentene
Phenoxy acetyl chloride
a-Phenoxypropionitrile chloride
Phenyl o-propyl ether
p-Phenylphenetone
n-Propylisopropyl ether
Sodium 8, 11, 14 elcosate traenoate
Sodium ethoxyacetylide
Tetrahydropyran
Triethylene glycol diacetate
Trithylene glycol dipropionate
1,3,3-Trimethoxypropene d
l,l,2,3,-Tetrachloro-l,3-butadiene
4-Vinyl Cyclohexene
Vinylene carbonate
Vinylidene chloride d

Note: There may be more materials that form peroxides.
Use this as a general guide only.
Always refer to the latest research and manufacturers MSDS for current information on the materials you use.