Hazardous diisopropyl ether

The hazards of working with diisopropyl ether are de scribed in the Journal of Chemical Education p 469 (1963)... 

There is a long history of laboratory and plant fires and explosions involving the very high flammability and/or tendency to peroxide formation in these widely used solvents, diisopropyl ether being the most notorious. Methods of controlling peroxide hazards in the use of ethers have been reviewed [1], and information on storage, handling, purification [2,3] and disposal [4] have been detailed. 

Containers of di-isopropyl ether that have been opened, or have been stored for more than 3 months, may contain hazardous quantities of peroxides. Especially if crystals are present, the container should be handled only by appropriate authorities such as a bomb squad. Where the container can be opened safely, check for peroxides as follows Wear butyl rubber gloves, laboratory coat, and eye protection. Work in the fume hood. Dissolve 100 mg of potassium iodide in 1 mL of glacial acetic acid. Add to 1 mL of diisopropyl ether. A pale yellow color indicates a low concentration (0.001-0.005%) and a bright yellow or brown color indicates a high concentration (above 0.01% and hazardous) of peroxide in the sample.11... 

Severe peroxide hazard on storage with exposure to air Discard within 3 months Diisopropyl ether Sodium amide (sodamide)... 

SAFETY PROFILE A corrosive irritant to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Dangerous fire hazard when exposed to heat or flame can react vigorously with oxidizing materials. Reacts with water or steam to produce toxic and corrosive fumes. Exothermic reaction with diisopropyl ether produces much gas. The reaction may be dangerous if confined. To fight fire, use CO2, dry chemical do not use water. When heated to decomposition it emits highly toxic fumes of CL. See also HYDROCHLORIC ACID. 

All routes required highly flammable or hazardous substances such as cyclohexane (A), methanol (A-C), toluene (C, D), diisopropyl ether (D), sodium ethoxide... 

Koenst, W. M. B. 1981. The hazard of a pro-pionyl chloride-diisopropyl ether mixture. J. Hazard. Mater. 4(3) 291-98. 

Similarly, the a position in ethers is autoxidized quite readily to give hydroperoxides. Autoxidation of ethers to the a-hydroperoxy derivatives is not an important preparative reaction, but is the basis of a widely recognized laboratory hazard. The peroxides formed from commonly used ethers such as diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, diglyme, and diisopropyl ether are explosive. Appreciable amounts... 

The presence of antioxidants in eluents and extraction solvents Antioxidants can be readily oxidized electrochemically and generate high background currents or interfering broad peaks. Thus, eluents and extraction solvents containing such compounds should be either avoided or purified before use. For example, ethers, such as diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, and tetrahydrofuran are likely to contain up to 0.1% (w/v) pyrogallol or quinol (hydroquinone) as stabilizer. If the stabilizer is removed, peroxides will form and their concentration will increase with time unless the solvent is stored under nitrogen. Not only do peroxides present a hazard from explosion, but they may also oxidize susceptible analytes. Methyl f-butyl ether (MTBE), on the other hand, is stable to oxidation. 

---