Hydrogen peroxide safety issues

Technical Report · Wed Apr 14 00:00:00 EDT 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10158827· OSTI ID:10158827

Conner, W V

A literature survey was conducted to review the safety issues involved in handling hydrogen peroxide solutions. Most of the information found in the literature is not directly applicable to conditions at the Rocky Flats Plant, but one report describes experimental work conducted previously at Rocky Flats to determine decomposition reaction-rate constants for hydrogen peroxide solutions. Data from this report were used to calculate decomposition half-life times for hydrogen peroxide in solutions containing several decomposition catalysts. The information developed from this survey indicates that hydrogen peroxide will undergo both homogeneous and heterogeneous decomposition. The rate of decomposition is affected by temperature and the presence of catalytic agents. Decomposition of hydrogen peroxide is catalyzed by alkalies, strong acids, platinum group and transition metals, and dissolved salts of transition metals. Depending upon conditions, the consequence of a hydrogen peroxide decomposition can range from slow evolution of oxygen gas to a vapor, phase detonation of hydrogen peroxide vapors.

• Research Organization: EG and G Rocky Flats, Inc., Golden, CO (United States). Rocky Flats Plant
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC34-90DP62349
• OSTI ID: 10158827
• Report Number(s): RFP-4599; ON: DE93013895
• Resource Relation: Other Information: PBD: 14 Apr 1993
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
MATERIALS HANDLING
PLUTONIUM
PRECIPITATION
SAFETY
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
DECOMPOSITION
CATALYSIS
ROCKY FLATS PLANT
570000
400201
HEALTH AND SAFETY
CHEMICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES