Di-tert-butyl peroxide

Excerpt from ERG Guide 145 [Organic Peroxides (Heat and Contamination Sensitive)]:

Use water spray, powder, foam, carbon dioxide. In case of fire: keep drums, etc., cool by spraying with water. Combat fire from a sheltered position.

Fresh air, rest. Half-upright position. Refer for medical attention.

First rinse with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, then remove contaminated clothes and rinse again.

First rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible), then refer for medical attention.

Rinse mouth. Refer for medical attention .

EYES: First check the victim for contact lenses and remove if present. Flush victim's eyes with water or normal saline solution for 20 to 30 minutes while simultaneously calling a hospital or poison control center. Do not put any ointments, oils, or medication in the victim's eyes without specific instructions from a physician. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim after flushing eyes to a hospital even if no symptoms (such as redness or irritation) develop.

Suitable extinguishing media: Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide.

Advice for firefighters: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighting if necessary.

Use water spray to cool unopened containers.

Use water spray, powder, foam, carbon dioxide. In case of fire: keep drums, etc., cool by spraying with water. Combat fire from a sheltered position.

Warning: Water may not work to fight fire.

Store in original container. Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage. Recommended storage temperature 2 - 8 °C. Storage class (TRGS 510): Organic peroxides and self-reacting hazardous materials.

Fireproof. Separated from combustible substances and reducing agents. Cool. Well closed.

ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES: Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures: Use personal protective equipment. Avoid breathing vapors, mist or gas. Ensure adequate ventilation. Remove all sources of ignition. Evacuate personnel to safe areas. Beware of vapors accumulating to form explosive concentrations. Vapors can accumulate in low areas. Environmental precautions: Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so. Do not let product enter drains. Discharge into the environment must be avoided. Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up: Contain spillage, and then collect with an electrically protected vacuum cleaner or by wet-brushing and place in container for disposal according to local regulations.

Personal protection: filter respirator for organic gases and vapors adapted to the airborne concentration of the substance. Ventilation. Remove all ignition sources. Collect leaking and spilled liquid in sealable containers as far as possible. Absorb remaining liquid in sand or inert absorbent. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations. Do not wash away into sewer. Do not absorb in saw-dust or other combustible absorbents.

SRP: Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in air, soil or water; effects on animal, aquatic and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations. If it is possible or reasonable use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational harm/injury/toxicity or environmental contamination.

Product: Burn in a chemical incinerator equipped with an afterburner and scrubber but exert extra care in igniting as this material is highly flammable. Offer surplus and non-recyclable solutions to a licensed disposal company. Contact a licensed professional waste disposal service to dispose of this material; Contaminated packaging: Dispose of as unused product.

Personal protection: filter respirator for organic gases and vapours adapted to the airborne concentration of the substance. Ventilation. Remove all ignition sources. Collect leaking and spilled liquid in sealable containers as far as possible. Absorb remaining liquid in sand or inert absorbent. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations. Do NOT wash away into sewer. Do NOT absorb in saw-dust or other combustible absorbents.

ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES: Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures: Use personal protective equipment. Avoid breathing vapors, mist or gas. Ensure adequate ventilation. Remove all sources of ignition. Evacuate personnel to safe areas. Beware of vapors accumulating to form explosive concentrations. Vapors can accumulate in low areas. Environmental precautions: Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so. Do not let product enter drains. Discharge into the environment must be avoided.

Precautions for safe handling: Avoid contact with skin and eyes. Avoid inhalation of vapor or mist. Use explosion-proof equipment. Keep away from sources of ignition - No smoking. Take measures to prevent the build up of electrostatic charge. Keep away from heat and sources of ignition.

Appropriate engineering controls: Handle in accordance with good industrial hygiene and safety practice. Wash hands before breaks and at the end of workday.

Gloves must be inspected prior to use. Use proper glove removal technique (without touching glove's outer surface) to avoid skin contact with this product. Dispose of contaminated gloves after use in accordance with applicable laws and good laboratory practices. Wash and dry hands.

For more Preventive Measures (Complete) data for Bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)peroxide (9 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Effect of peroxide administration on chick growth, severity of exudative diathesis, and glutathione peroxidase ... was greatly influenced by dietary selenium level but little if any relationship of this disease to peroxide induced reductions in glutathione peroxidase activity. ... Tertiary butyl peroxide administration caused depression in glutathione peroxidase activity in liver.

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 620(SRC), determined from a structure estimation method(2), indicates that bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)peroxide is expected to have moderate mobility in soil(SRC). Volatilization of bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)peroxide from moist soil surfaces is expected to be an important fate process(SRC) given an estimated Henry's Law constant of 0.0483 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), based upon its vapor pressure, 25.1 mm Hg(3), and water solubility, 100 mg/L(4). Bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)peroxide is expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon its vapor pressure(3). Utilizing the Japanese MITI test, 0% of the Theoretical BOD was reached in 4 weeks(4) indicating that biodegradation is not an important environmental fate process in soil(SRC). Organic peroxides, such as bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)peroxide, are strong oxidizers and may ignite organic materials in soil on contact(6).

AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 620(SRC), determined from a structure estimation method(2), indicates that bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)peroxide is expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment(SRC). Volatilization from water surfaces is expected(3) based upon an estimated Henry's Law constant of 0.0483 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), derived from its vapor pressure, 25.1 mm Hg(4), and water solubility, 100 mg/L(5). Using this Henry's Law constant and an estimation method(3), volatilization half-lives for a model river and model lake are 4 hrs and 5 days, respectively(SRC). According to a classification scheme(6), an estimated BCF of 88(SRC), from an estimated log Kow of 32.45(2), suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is moderate(SRC). Utilizing the Japanese MITI test, 0% of the Theoretical BOD was reached in 4 weeks(7) indicating that biodegradation is not an important environmental fate process in water(SRC). Organic peroxides, such as bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)peroxide, are strong oxidizers and may ignite organic materials in water on contact(8).

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)peroxide, which has a vapor pressure of 25.1 mm Hg at 25 °C(2), is expected to exist solely as a vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)peroxide is degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals(SRC); the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be 15 days(SRC), calculated from its rate constant of 1.0X10-12 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) that was derived using a structure estimation method(3). Bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)peroxide absorbs UV light at wavelengths of 340 nm(4) and, therefore, may be susceptible to direct photolysis by sunlight(SRC).

IDENTIFICATION AND USE: Bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) peroxide is a liquid. It is used as a polymerization catalyst for resins, including olefins, styrene, styrenated alkyds, and silicones. It is also used as an ignition accelerator for diesel fuel, and an organic synthesis intermediate. HUMAN STUDIES: Workers engaged in the production of organic peroxides suffered from grippe, angina, acute respiratory diseases, and pneumonia. ANIMAL STUDIES: Tumorigenic response after exposure of di-tert-butyl peroxide at a single dose of 100 umol to 50 mice consisted of 7 animals with malignant lymphomas and 1 animal with pulmonary adenomas out of 35 survivors. Di-t-butyl peroxide, which was essentially inactive in short-term in vitro promotion assays, was also totally inactive in promoting papillomas or carcinomas in initiated skin. Chromosome breakage has been detected using tert-butyl peroxide. The mutagenicity of di-t-butyl peroxide was tested using Salmonella typhimurium TA 98 and TA 100 in the presence of metabolic activation. No mutagenic activity was observed with di-t-butyl peroxide.

Cough. Shortness of breath. Sore throat.

Redness. Pain.

Abdominal cramps. Vomiting. Further see Inhalation.

EPA has released the Interactive Chemical Safety for Sustainability (iCSS) Dashboard. The iCSS Dashboard provides an interactive tool to explore rapid, automated (or in vitro high-throughput) chemical screening data generated by the Toxicity Forecaster (ToxCast) project and the federal Toxicity Testing in the 21st century (Tox21) collaboration. /The title compound was tested by ToxCast and/or Tox21 assays/[USEPA; ICSS Dashboard Application; Available from, as of September 21, 2017: http://actor.epa.gov/dashboard/]

The following link will take the user to the National Toxicology Program (NTP) Test Status of Agents Search page, which tabulates the results and current status of tests such as "Short-Term Toxicity Studies", "Long-term Carcinogenicity Studies", "Developmental Studies", "Genetic Toxicology Studies", etc., performed with this chemical. Testing status for di-tert-butyl peroxide is available.[Available from, as of September 20, 2017: https://ntpsearch.niehs.nih.gov/?e=True&ContentType=Testing+Status]

Using a structure estimation method based on molecular connectivity indices(1), the Koc of bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)peroxide can be estimated to be 620(SRC). According to a classification scheme(2), this estimated Koc value suggests that bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)peroxide is expected to have moderate mobility in soil.

Bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)peroxide's production and use as a polymerization catalyst(1) for resins, including olefins, styrene, styrenated alkyds, and silicones and an ignition accelerator for diesel fuel, in organic synthesis, as an intermediate(2) may result in its release to the environment through various waste streams(SRC).

An estimated BCF of 88 was calculated in fish for bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)peroxide(SRC), using an estimated log Kow of 3.45(1) and a regression-derived equation(1). According to a classification scheme(2), this BCF suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is moderate(SRC).