OSHA Hazard Information Bulletins
Spills of Cumene Hydroperoxide.
 OSHA Safety and Health Information Bulletins - Table of Contents
- Information Date: 19870922
- Record Type: Hazard Information Bulletin
- Subject: Spills of Cumene Hydroperoxide.
September 22, 1987
| MEMORANDUM FOR FOR REGIONAL ADMINISTRATORS |
| THRU: |
LEO CAREY
Director
Office of Field Programs |
| FROM: |
EDWARD BAIER
Director
Directorate of Technical Support |
| SUBJECT: |
Health Hazard Information Bulletin: Spills of Cumene
Hydroperoxide |
Region II has brought to our attention a discrepancy in recommendations for
cleaning up spills of cumene hydroperoxide. The Hazardous Chemical Data
Section of the Fire Protection Guide on Hazardous Materials, Seventh Edition,
pages 49-105 indicates that a non-combustible absorbent, such as vermiculite,
should be used. However, a chemical manufacturer of cumene hydroperoxide
specifically states in its material safety data sheet on this chemical, "Do
not use vermiculite." The Manufacturer suggests the use of soda ash for
spill cleanup to maintain the pH high.
Cumene hydroperoxide is a colorless to pale yellow combustible liquid with a
sharp irritating odor. It is an oxidizing agent which reacts violently with
reducing agents and decomposes exothermally at temperature above 50 C in
70-80 percent concentrations. Cumene hydroperoxide is known to cause
ignition, violent combustion, or explosion when in contact with easily
oxidizable substances. The exposure limit for this chemical has not been
established.
Vermiculite is a mineral of the mica group but hydrated, and with the
property of expanding six to twenty times the volume of the unexpanded
mineral when heated to about 2,000 F. It is a hydrated
magnesium-aluminum-iron silicate containing approximately 39 percent SiO2, 21
percent MgO, 15 percent Al2O3, 9 percent Fe2O3, 5 to 7 percent K2O, 1 percent
CaO, 5 to 9 percent H2O, and small quantities of chromium, manganese,
phosphorus, sulfer and chlorine.
Region II investigated an incident in which a company disposed of
approximately 45 gallons of cumene hydroperoxide by using a clay like
material called "Zip Zorb" as an absorbent and stored the mix in covered 5
gallon polyethylene pails. The Material Safety Data Sheet for "Zip Zorb"
indicates that it contains hydrated magnesium aluminum silicate. The "Zip
Zorb" and the cumene hydroperoxide stored in the polyethylene pails reacted
and generated enough heat to melt the pails and released gases that required
a local evacuation.
The discrepancy has been discussed with the Chairman of the NFPA Committee
49 "Properties of Hazardous Chemicals" for consideration in the next
revision of Hazardous Chemical Data NFPA 49.
We recommend that compliance and consultation personnel be aware of the
hazard addressed in this bulletin. Please disseminate this information to
Area Office, State Plan States and Consultation Project Officers.
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