Procedure - Test for Peroxides

Procedure:

Test for Peroxides:

If the container is safe to open:

Test the peroxide-forming chemical with a commercial test strip (test range of approximately 0.5 to 100 ppm).
If the concentration of peroxides is greater than the concentration range measured by the test strip, please contact HSEO for proper disposal.

Concerning results of the peroxide test, the following concentration guidelines apply:

Alternate Peroxide Test:

The procedure listed below only indicates the presence of peroxides and does not indicate their concentration.

Take 1-3 mL of the liquid you are testing and dilute with an equal portion of acetic acid (AcOH). Add three drops of 5% potassium iodide solution (KI) and mix. If a shade of yellow or brown appears, peroxides are present. The darker the color, the higher
the concentration of peroxides

yellow to faint orange = negligible amount of peroxides (40-100 ppm as hydrogen peroxide)
brown colour = peroxides present

If this procedure indicates a dark violet or brown color, call HSEO for removal and disposal.

Reference:
Kelly, R. J., Review of Safety Guidelines for Peroxidizable Organic Chemicals. Chemical Health and Safety 1996, 3, 28-36.