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Chemical Name: Cumene hydroperoxide
Common Synonyms: Isopropylbenzene hydroperoxide
Appearance: Colorless to pale yellow liquid with a sharp, distinct odor
Main Use: Serves as an initiator in polymerization, key ingredient in manufacturing phenol and acetone
CAS Number: 80-15-9
Physical Hazards: Highly flammable liquid and vapor, risk of explosion if heated or contaminated
Health Hazards: Strong irritant to skin, eyes, and respiratory tract, harmful if swallowed
Environmental Hazards: Toxic to aquatic life, harmful if released into waterways
Signal Word: Danger
GHS Symbols: Flame, exclamation mark, corrosion, dead fish/tree
Primary Dangers: Combustion releases toxic fumes, including phenol and carbon monoxide
Main Ingredient: Cumene hydroperoxide (concentration often ranges between 60-90%)
Stabilizers or Impurities: Organic solvents, sometimes trace phenol, traces of cumene
Notable Additives: None specified
Toxic Components: Both cumene and its hydroperoxide pose health and fire hazards due to volatility and reactivity
Eye Contact: Rinse immediately with clean water for no less than 15 minutes, keep eyelids open, seek prompt medical attention
Skin Contact: Remove all contaminated clothing, wash affected skin liberally with soap and plenty of water, medical evaluation is important for burns or persistent irritation
Inhalation: Move the exposed person to fresh air, maintain open airways, call for medical assistance if symptoms develop or persist
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting, rinse mouth with water if conscious, obtain medical help without delay
Symptoms to Watch: Redness, pain, blisters, dizziness, coughing, headaches, abdominal pain
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use dry chemical, carbon dioxide, or foam; water spray may be used only for cooling containers, never direct streams
Major Risks: Combustion may result in violent explosions, release of toxic gases such as carbon monoxide, phenol, and possibly benzene
Protective Equipment: Full protective fire gear, self-contained breathing apparatus
Precautions: Containers exposed to fire may explode; remove if safe or cool with water from a distance
Evacuation: Clear everyone except trained emergency personnel from the area
Containment: Limit the spread using inert non-flammable absorbents such as vermiculite or sand
Clean-Up: Collect spent absorbents into dedicated containers, do not wash to drain
Personal Protection: Use appropriate gloves, eye and skin protection, and respiratory protection in case of vapors
Environmental Protection: Block entry into drains, surface, and ground waters
Handling Requirements: Keep away from sources of ignition including open flames and static, avoid breathing vapors
Practices to Encourage: Use only in well-ventilated locations, avoid contact with incompatible materials such as reducing agents or strong acids and bases
Storage Guidelines: Store in tightly closed, properly labeled containers; keep in cool, non-reactive, and well-ventilated areas separate from heat sources
Container Cautions: Only use containers approved for peroxide storage; polymerization could rupture unauthorized tanks
Do Not Store With: Combustibles, organic solvents, strong acids, or reactive metals
Occupational Exposure Limits: No specific OSHA limit, but ACGIH provides a TLV-TWA of 1 ppm for cumene
Engineering Controls: Ensure good local ventilation, work with fume hoods or explosion-proof exhaust
Personal Protective Equipment: Chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile, neoprene), splash-proof goggles, protective clothing to minimize skin contact, proper respiratory protection if vapors exceed recommended limits
Hygiene Recommendations: Wash hands and face after handling, keep contaminated clothing out of communal areas until laundered
Appearance: Pale yellow or colorless liquid
Odor: Sharp, pungent
Boiling Point: Approximately 153°C (307°F)
Melting/Freezing Point: Below room temperature, typically −30°C (−22°F)
Vapor Pressure: Moderate, increases significantly with temperature
Solubility: Poorly soluble in water, mixes with most organic solvents
Density: Near 1 g/cm³
Stability: Thermally unstable, tends toward hazardous decomposition above 50°C (122°F)
Chemical Reactivity: Strong oxidizer, can ignite or explode if exposed to incompatible substances
Incompatible Materials: Reducing agents, strong acids or bases, combustibles, metals such as copper or iron
Decomposition Products: Phenol, acetone, cumene, carbon oxides
Polymerization: May occur rapidly if exposed to heat or contamination, sometimes violently
Acute Effects: Direct contact can burn or blister skin and eyes, inhaling vapors provokes respiratory distress and headache
Chronic Effects: Prolonged or repeated exposure has potential to affect the liver and kidneys, may sensitize skin
Sensitization: Cases of allergic skin reactions documented
Carcinogenicity: Cumene, its parent compound, is classified by IARC as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B)
Route of Exposure: Skin, eyes, inhalation, and, less frequently, ingestion
Persistence: Tends to break down under exposure to sunlight and air but remains hazardous in aquatic environments
Bioaccumulation: Some risk in aquatic organisms; chronic releases can enter food chains
Aquatic Toxicity: Toxic at low concentrations to many fish and invertebrates
Soil Mobility: Limited by low water solubility yet can persist at spill sites
Disposal Method: Incinerate at a permitted facility specializing in hazardous chemical waste
Do Not: Pour down drains, sewers, or regular landfills
Clean-Up Waste: Absorbent materials used for spills must be managed as hazardous waste
Used Containers: Triple-rinse, then puncture and ship for hazardous waste processing
Proper Shipping Name: Organic peroxide, liquid, Type E, cumene hydroperoxide
UN Number: 3109
Transport Category: Class 5.2 (Organic Peroxide)
Packing: Must use certified packages, temperature-controlled transport to avoid heat exposure
Accident Emergency: Notify authorities, evacuate area, use caution for potential fire/explosion
GHS Classification: Flammable liquid, organic peroxide, acute toxicant, eye and skin irritant
EPA Listing: Considered hazardous under US Clean Water Act, RCRA, and CERCLA
Workplace Regulations: OSHA regulations dictate use of PPE, training, and good handling practices
Labelling: Signal word “Danger” required on all industrial containers, clear hazard pictograms for users
Community Right-to-Know: Facilities using major quantities must report emissions and storage under EPCRA
