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Testing for Peroxide
"peroxide in water & peroxide in solvents"
Recently Simply Frogg has received numerous inquiries regarding peroxide testing products. Ordinarily we would suggest part number Peroxide Check, Peroxide Check Low Range or Peroxide Check High Range from Industrial Test Systems, Inc. and that would solve the problem. On these occasions, though, these folks threw an extra condition into the mix: The test must work in organic solvents such as ethers, cyclohexanol, benzyl alcohol, styrene, and others. Apparently these compounds can form dangerously high levels of peroxides when exposed to various naturally occurring elements such as light, heat, or the introduction of a contaminant. High levels of organic peroxides created a dangerous situation. Heat, shock and/or friction can trigger an explosion. (See this Peroxide Formation Information Page for more information on the hazards associated with the formation of peroxides in organic solvents.)
Chemical indicators/compounds that work in aqueous environments often come from organic solvents, thus making them water insoluble and useful for testing in water. If those same indicators find themselves in organic solvents, they will, as a general rule, go back into solution. When that happens, they become useless. For that reason, the peroxide tests offered by Industrial Test Systems, Inc. will usually not work in organic solvents.
After a little bit of digging on the internet, Simply Frogg staff members located a company which carries a line of products for use in organic solvents. Sigma Aldrich has a couple of different peroxide detecting strips with varying ranges. The one which seemed, in Simply Frogg’s opinion, to make the most sense was Peroxide test sticks Quantofix, product number 37206 . You should still, however, make certain FOR YOURSELF that the product will work for you and do the job you need it to.
In conclusion, Industrial Test Systems, Inc. makes a great set of products for detecting peroxide(s) in water and Sigma Aldrich carries a set of products suitable for detecting peroxide(s) in organic solvents.
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