they are useful as solvents for fats, oils, waxes, perfumes, resins, dyes, gums, and hydrocarbons. Ethers, like alcohols, are relatively soluble in water compared to other organic solvents. They are highly flammable and can oxidise to form organic peroxides such as diethyl ether peroxide - opened bottles of diethyl ether can build up dangerous levels of these peroxides in months. The has the same word ‘flammable’ meaning as Flammable ‘inflammable’. liquids are liquids, or mixtures of liquids, or liquids containing solids in solution or suspension (for example, paints, varnishes, H3: Flammable Primary hazard lacquers, etc, but not including substances liquids or wastes otherwise classified on account of their dangerous characteristics) which give off flammable vapour at temperatures of not more than 60.5°C, closed-cup test, or not more than 65.6°C, open-cup test. Why is it Substances or wastes which, if they are hazardous? Secondary H11: Toxic (delayed inhaled or ingested or if they penetrate the hazard or chronic) skin, may involve delayed or chronic effects, including carcinogenicity. H13: Capable of Capable, by any means, after disposal, of yielding another yielding another material. In the case of Other hazard(s) hazard or hazardous some ethers, they can form explosive material organic peroxides in contact with light, heat and oxygen in shelf-life timeframes. Other organic chemicals, as ethyl is a very Main likely chemical contaminants effective solvent. Where does it Printing industry, pathology and diagnostic imagery services, Main sources come from? scientific research services and higher education. Waste solvents are often subject to reclamation, but due to the high How is it Main fates flammability of ethers this will either be blended into a waste derived managed? fuel for energy recovery or incinerated. Volume score <1% 1 5% 5 10% 10 20% 20% – – – ≥ (% of national tonnes in 2013) 0.02% How much is generated in 0 0 TOTAL: 1,463 ACT: NSW: Australia? Waste arising in NT: 0 Qld: 145 SA: 6 2013 (tonnes) Tas: 0 Vic: 1,295 WA: 17
they are useful as solvents for fats, oils, waxes, perfumes, resins, dyes, gums, and hydrocarbons. Ethers, like alcohols, are relatively soluble in water compared to other organic solvents. They are highly flammable and can to form organic peroxides such as diethyl ether peroxide - opened bottles of diethyl ether can build up dangerous levels of these peroxides in months. Why is it hazardous? Primary hazard H3: Flammable liquids The word ‘flammable’ has the same meaning as ‘inflammable’. Flammable liquids are liquids, or mixtures of liquids, or liquids containing solids in solution or suspension (for example, paints, varnishes, lacquers, etc, but not including substances or wastes otherwise classified on account of their dangerous characteristics) which give off flammable vapour at temperatures of not more than 60.5°C, closed-cup test, or not more than 65.6°C, open-cup test. Secondary hazard H11: Toxic (delayed or chronic) Substances or wastes which, if they are inhaled or ingested or if they penetrate the skin, may involve delayed or chronic effects, including carcinogenicity. Other hazard(s) H13: Capable of yielding another hazard or hazardous material Capable, by any means, after disposal, of yielding another material. In the case of some ethers, they can form explosive organic peroxides in contact with light, heat and oxygen in shelf-life timeframes. Main likely chemical contaminants Other organic chemicals, as ethyl is a very effective solvent. Where does it come from? Main sources Printing industry, pathology and diagnostic imagery services, scientific research services and higher education. How is it managed? Main fates Waste solvents are often subject to reclamation, but due to the high flammability of ethers this will either be blended into a waste derived fuel for energy recovery or incinerated. How much is generated in Australia? Volume score (% of national tonnes in 2013) <1% 1 – 5% 5 – 10% 10 – 20% ≥ 20% 0.02% Waste arising in 2013 (tonnes) TOTAL: 1,463 ACT: 0 NSW: 0 NT: 0 Qld: 145 SA: 6 Tas: 0 Vic: 1,295 WA: 17 oxidise