Hydrogen peroxide

CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE IDENTIFICATION

Chemical name                 

Hydrogen peroxide [1]

Synonyms                           

IUPAC name

peroxol [1]

CAS No

7722-84-1

REACH registration number

EC No

Molecular formula              

H₂O₂ [1]

Substance group/chemical family

Mono constituent substance/ Inorganic [1]

Appearance

Physical state

Odour

Form

Colour

Liquid (100%)  at 20°C and 1013 hPa [1]

Odourless (100%) [1]  Slightly sharp odor [2]

colourless [2] 

USES AND HANDLING ISSUES

Relevant identified uses

This substance is used in the following products: metal surface treatment products, pH regulators and water treatment products, semiconductors, metal working fluids, biocides (e.g. disinfectants, pest control products), laboratory chemicals, leather treatment products, lubricants and greases, paper chemicals and dyes, textile treatment products and dyes and water treatment chemicals. [1]

Hydrogen peroxide is an important commercial chemical. It is used as a bleaching or deodorizing agent in foods, textiles and personal care items. It is used in wastewater treatment, to make other chemicals and for chemical analysis. A form of hydrogen peroxide is used in rocket propulsion. Hydrogen peroxide is used in making wine and as a seed disinfectant. It is also used on indoor and outdoor crops and certain crops after harvesting to control fungi and bacteria. [2]

Handling considerations

ECHA has no data from registration dossiers on the precautionary measures for using this substance. [1]

Store in an area without drain or sewer access. Separated from food and feedstuffs. See Chemical Dangers. Cool. Keep in the dark. Store in vented containers. Store only if stabilized. Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage. Recommended storage temperature 2 - 8 °C. /Hydrogen peroxide solution (>/= 30% to <50%) [2]

Store in original closed container. Be sure that the container vent is working properly. Do not add any other compound to the container. When empty, flush container thoroughly with clean water. [2]

Fire prevention: NO contact with hot surfaces. NO contact with incompatible materials: See Chemical Dangers

Exposure prevention: PREVENT GENERATION OF MISTS! AVOID ALL CONTACT! IN ALL CASES CONSULT A DOCTOR!

Inhalation prevention: Use ventilation, local exhaust or breathing protection.

Skin prevention: Protective gloves. Protective clothing.

Eye prevention: Wear safety goggles or face shield.

Ingestion prevention: Do not eat, drink, or smoke during work. [2]

PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Molecular weight                                  

34.015 g/mol [2]

Bulk density/Specific gravity

1.442 (relative density) at 20°C [1]

pH

Weak acid; H2O2 conc. wt% = 35, 50, 70, 90; corresponding to pH: 4.6, 4.3, 4.4, 5.1 [2]

Particle size

EC

Melting/Freezing point

-0.43 °C @ 101.3 kPa [1]

Boiling point

150.2 °C @ 101.3 kPa [1]

Flash point

Flammability

GHS criteria not met (100%) [1]

Vapour density

Vapour pressure

2.99 hPa @ 24.85 °C [1]

Solubility in water

100 g/L @ 20 °C and pH 7 [1]

Solubility in organic solvents

Soluble in ether; insoluble in petroleum ether. Decomposed into water and oxygen by many organic solvents.  [2]

Solubility in inorganic solvents

Soluble in alcohol  [2]

Hydrolysis

Ionicity in water

10.54 eV (ionization potential) [2]

Surface tension

80.4 mN/m at 20 °C [1] 

Dispersion properties

Explosiveness

Non-explosive (100%) [1]

Other properties

Dynamic viscosity at 20 °C: 1.249 mPa.s [1]

Stability and reactivity

Chemical stability

Oxidising (100%) [1]

Reactivity hazards

Strong Oxidizing Agent [2]

It will react or decompose violently and exothermically with readily oxidizable materials or alkaline substances. May decompose violently in contact with iron, copper, chromium, and most other metals or their salts, which act as catalysts for this reaction, and with ordinary dust (which frequently contain rust, also a catalyst for this reaction). [2]

Corrosivity

Corrosive  [2]

Polimerization

Incompatibility with various substances

Most cellulose materials contain enough catalyst to cause spontaneous ignition with 90% peroxide.  Soluble fuels (acetone, ethanol, and glycerol) will detonate on admixture with peroxide of over 30% concentration, the violence increasing with concentration. [2]

Zinc, powdered metals, iron, copper, nickel, brass, iron and iron salts. [2]

Special remarks on reactivity

may decompose violently if traces of impurities are present [2]

Physical, chemical and biological coefficient

Koc

Kow

Log Kow (Log Pow): -1.57 @ 20 °C [1]

pKa

0  at 20 °C [1]

11.62 [2]

log Kp

Henry-constant

0.001 Pa m³/mol @ 20 °C [1]

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND BEHAVIOUR

Artificial pollution sources

Release to the environment of this substance can occur from industrial use: as processing aid, in processing aids at industrial sites, as an intermediate step in further manufacturing of another substance (use of intermediates), for thermoplastic manufacture, of substances in closed systems with minimal release and manufacturing of the substance. [1]

General terrestrial fate

Hydrogen peroxide is unstable and breaks down rapidly to oxygen and water. Therefore, adsorption to soil, volatilization and biodegradation are not important environmental fate processes in soil. [2]

General aquatic fate

Hydrogen peroxide is unstable and breaks down rapidly to oxygen and water. Therefore, adsorption to suspended solids and sediment, volatilization, biodegradation and bioconcentration are not important environmental fate processes in water. [2]

General atmospheric fate

Hydrogen peroxide is unstable and breaks down rapidly to oxygen and water. It is expected to be broken down by sunlight. [2]

General persistence and degradability

Readily biodegradable in water (100%) [1]

Abiotic degradation and metabolites

Biodegradation and metabolites

Bioconcentration

Volatilization

Photolysis

Gaseous hydrogen peroxide is a key component and product of the earth's lower atmospheric photochemical reactions, in both clean and polluted atmospheres. Atmospheric hydrogen peroxide is believed to be generated exclusively by gas-phase photochemical reactions. [2]

Hydrolysis

Soil adsorption and mobility

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCENTRATIONS

Measured data

Gaseous hydrogen peroxide is a key component and product of the earth's lower atmospheric photochemical reactions, in both clean and polluted atmospheres. Atmospheric hydrogen peroxide is believed to be generated exclusively by gas-phase photochemical reactions. It has been found in rain and surface water, in human and plant tissues, in foods and beverages and in bacteria. Hydrogen peroxide occurs in cloud water with higher values generally occurring in the vicinity of lightning activity. [2]

Gas phase concentrations, determined by a fluorometric method, were always less than 2.4 ppb and generally less than 1 ppb. Vertical profiles of hydrogen peroxide in the clear air around clouds and storm systems were highly variable. Concentrations of hydrogen peroxide in cloud water ranged from the detection limit of 0.3 uM to 112 uM, with higher values generally occurring in the vicinity of lightning activity. Hydrogen peroxide concentrations in cloud water were well below those calculated to be in Henry's law equilibrium with gas-phase concentrations of hydrogen peroxide in the cloudy air. [2]

ECOTOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION

General adverse effects on ecosystem

Acute toxicity (LC50, EC50)

Aquatic systems

LC50: 16.4 mg/L  (freshwater fish, 4 days) [1]

LC50 (48 h): 2.4 mg/L (aquatic invertebrates) [1]

EC50 (72 h): 1.38 mg/L (aquatic algae) [1]

EC50 (3 h): 1000 mg/L (microorganisms) [1]

Terrestrial systems

Chronic toxicity (NOEC, LOEC)

Aquatic systems

NOEC (21 days) 0.630 mg/L, (aquatic invertebrates) [1]

LOEC (21 days) 1.25 mg/L, (aquatic invertebrates) [1]

Terrestrial systems

HUMAN HEALTH EFFECTS and PROTECTION

Routes of human exposures

General effects

Irritation eyes, nose, throat; corneal ulcer; erythema (skin redness), vesiculation skin; bleaching hair, sore throat. Cough. Dizziness. Headache. Nausea. Shortness of breath. [2]

Endocrine disruption

Mutagenicity

It was shown to be mutagenic to bacteria (Salmonella typhimurium) and the fungi, Neurospora crassa and Aspergillis chevallieri, and induced DNA damage in Escheria coli. It also caused sister chromatid exchanges and chromosomal aberrations in mammalian cells in vitro. [2]

Carcinogenicity

1 ppm as TWA 8 Time weighted Average); A3 (confirmed animal carcinogen with unknown relevance to humans). [2]

There is inadequate evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of hydrogen peroxide. There is limited evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of hydrogen peroxide. Overall evaluation: Hydrogen peroxide is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans (Group 3). [2]

Reprotoxicity

Teratogenicity

Skin, eye and respiratory irritations

skin, eye and respiratory irritation

Pure hydrogen peroxide, its solutions, vapors, and mists are very irritating to body tissue. This irritation can vary from mild to severe depending upon the concentration of hydrogen peroxide. [2]

Metabolism:

absorption, distribution & excretion

No bioaccumulation potential [1]

It is reported that hydrogen peroxide is decomposed before absorption in the intestine. Solutions of hydrogen peroxide displays poor penetration when applied to tissue [2]

Hydrogen peroxide is reduced by glutathione peroxidase, which is an endogenous enzyme in human tissue. It is rapidly decomposed to oxygen and water when in contact with catalase, an enzyme found in blood and most tissues. [2]

Exposure limits

DNEL: 1.4 mg/m³ (workers, inhalation, long term, local effects, irritation (respiratory tract)

DNEL: 210 µg/m³ (general population, inhalation, long term,  term, local effects, irritation (respiratory tract)

DNEL: 3 mg/m³ (workers, inhalation, acute/short term, local effects, irritation (respiratory tract)

DNEL: 1.93 mg/m³ (general population, inhalation, acute/short term, local effects, irritation (respiratory tract)

Workers & general population, dermal, acute/short term, local effects, repeated dose toxicity: High hazard (no threshold derived)

Workers & general population, eye exposure: High hazard (no threshold derived)  [1]

Drinking water MAC

Other information

OSHA: Permissible exposure limit: 8 hrs Time Weighted Avg: 1 ppm (1.4 mg/cu m) [2]

NIOSH: Recommended Exposure Limit: 10 Hour Time-Weighted Average: 1 ppm (1.4 mg/cu m) [2]

Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH): 75 ppm (NIOSH, OSHA) [2]

Animal toxicity data

Acute toxicity (LD50)

LD50: 693.7 - 1 270 mg/kg bw (oral route , rat)[1]

LD50: 2 000 mg/kg bw (dermal, rabbit) [1]

Chronic toxicity (NOEL, LOEL)

NOEL: 100 mg/kg (oral, mouse, repeated dose toxicity

NOAEL: 2.9 mg/m³ air (inhalation, rat, repeated dose toxicity)

LOAEL: 14.6 mg/m³ air (inhalation, rat, repeated dose toxicity)   [1]

ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS

Danger! According to the harmonised classification and labelling (CLP00) approved by the European Union, this substance causes severe skin burns and eye damage, may cause fire or explosion (strong oxidiser), is harmful if swallowed and is harmful if inhaled.

Additionally, the classification provided by companies to ECHA in REACH registrations identifies that this substance causes serious eye damage, is harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects and may cause respiratory irritation. [1]

According to REACH registrations:

H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. H302: Harmful if swallowed.   H332: Harmful if inhaled. H318: Causes serious eye damage. H335: May cause respiratory irritation.  H271: May cause fire or explosion; strong oxidizer. H412: Harmful to aquatic life with long-lasting effects.

According to CLP notrifications:

H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. H302: Harmful if swallowed.   H332: Harmful if inhaled. H318: Causes serious eye damage. H335: May cause respiratory irritation.  H271: May cause fire or explosion; strong oxidizer. H412: Harmful to aquatic life with long-lasting effects. H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. H331: Toxic if inhaled.  H225: Highly flammable liquid and vapour. H312: Harmful in contact with skin. H336: May cause drowsiness or dizziness.

EINECS regulation

̵listed on EINECS (European INventory of Existing Commercial chemical Substances) List

OSHA regulations etc.

According to OSHA Highly Hazardous Chemicals, Toxics and Reactives, Hydrogen Peroxide (52% by weight or greater) in quantities at or above above 7500lb presents a potential for a catastrophic event as a toxic or reactive highly hazardous chemical. [2]

OTHER INFORMATION, SPECIAL REMARKS

Classification and proposed labelling with regard to toxicological data

According to EPA Safer chemical: Green circle - The chemical has been verified to be of low concern based on experimental and modeled data. [2]

CREATED, LAST UPDATE

Created

2019. 12. 05

Last update

2020. 09. 22

REFERENCES

[1] ECHA, Hydrogen peroxide, https://echa.europa.eu/hu/brief-profile/-/briefprofile/100.028.878 , Accessed 2019. 12. 05

[2] Pubchem, hydrogen peroxide, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Hydrogen-peroxide, Accessed 2020. 09. 22