General Description
Clear, colorless to slightly yellow liquid with a mild, aromatic odor. TERT-BUTYL PEROXYBENZOATE, [<= 75% IN SOLUTION] also is stored and transported as a mixture with inert solids and as a solvent slurry, to mitigate the explosion hazard.
Reactivity Profile
TERT-BUTYL PEROXYBENZOATE explodes with great violence when rapidly heated to a critical temperature; pure form is shock sensitive and detonable [Bretherick 1979 p. 602]. Upon contact with organic matter, t-butyl peroxybenzoate can ignite or give rise to an explosion [Haz. Chem. Data 1973 p. 77].
Air & Water Reactions
Insoluble in water.
Hazard
Oxidizing material; do not store near com-
bustible materials.
Description
Tert-Butyl peroxybenzoate (TBPB) is an organic compound with the formula C6H5CO3CMe3 (Me = CH3). TBPB, a pale yellow, is exclusively encountered as a solution in solvents such as ethanol or phthalate. It is an ester of peroxybenzoic acid and the most widely produced perester.
Chemical Properties
colourless or slightly yellow liquid
Health Hazard
t-Butyl peroxybenzoate is a mild skin andeye irritant. Exposure to 500 mg/day causedmild irritation in rabbit eyes and skin. Toxicitydata on animals show a low order oftoxicity.
LD50 value, oral (mice): 914 mg/kg
It has been reported to cause tumors(blood) in mice. Its carcinogenic actions onhumans are unknown.
Fire Hazard
Highly reactive and oxidizing compound
with moderate flammability; flash point (open
cup) 107–110°C (224.6–230°F); autoignition
temperature not reported.
It forms an explosive mixture with air; the
explosive range not reported. It is not sensitive
to shock but is heat sensitive. It explodes
on heating; self-accelerating decomposition
temperature 60°C (140°F).
It may react explosively when mixed with
readily oxidizable, organic, and flammable
substances. Fire-extinguishing agent: water
from a sprinkler; use water to keep the
containers cool.
Flammability and Explosibility
Flammable(100%)
Carcinogenicity
Other studies have determined
the possibility that t-butyl peroxybenzoate can be metabolized
to free radicals by human carcinoma skin keratinocytes.
Free radicals are suggested to be involved in the cascade of
events occurring during tumor promotion .
storage
It should be stored in a well-ventilatedplace at a temperature between 10 and27°C (50–80°F), isolated from oxidizable,flammable, organic materials and accelerators.It should be shipped in glass, polyethylene,and earthenware containers of up to5-gallon capacity placed inside wooden orfiberboard boxes.
