| Chemical Properties | Dilauroyl peroxide is a tasteless, coarse, white powder .
Dilauroyl peroxide is not a deflagration hazard. However,
it has been judged an intermediate fire hazard by Noller
et al. . When all the physical tests available for this
peroxide are evaluated collectively, it actually ranks as a
low physical hazard . |
| Uses | Dilauroyl peroxide is produced by reaction of lauroyl chloride with sodium
peroxide. Its major use is as an initiator for vinyl chloride. It is
used as a polymerization agent in the plastics industry and as a
curing agent for rubber. It has also been used as a burnout agent
for acetate yarns. The pharmaceutical industry uses it in topical
creams in combination with antibiotics for acne treatment . |
| Uses | Lauroyl peroxide is used as an initiatorfor free-radical polymerization in makingpolyvinyl chloride. Lauroyl peroxide constitutesabout 4% of all organic peroxides consumptionin the United States. |
| Uses | Lauroyl peroxide acts as a bleaching agent, drying agent for fats, oils and waxes. Further, it serves as a polymerization initiator as well as vulcanizing agent. In addition to this, it plays an important role for high-pressure polyethylene and food used in bleaching agent. |
| Preparation | Dilauroyl peroxide is the symmetrical peroxide of lauric acid. It is produced by treating lauroyl chloride with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of base:
2C11H23COCl + H2O2+ 2NaOH → (C11H23CO2)2 + 2HCl |
| Definition | ChEBI: Lauroyl peroxide is a dicarboxylic acid. |
| General Description | Dilauroyl peroxide appears as a white solid with a faint soapy odor. Less dense than water and insoluble in water. Hence floats on water. Melting point 49 °C. Toxic by ingestion and inhalation. Strong skin irritant. Used as bleaching agent, drying agent for fats, oils and waxes, and as a polymerization catalyst. |
| Air & Water Reactions | Highly flammable. Insoluble in water. |
| Reactivity Profile | Dilauroyl peroxide is an oxidizing agent. Can ignite organic materials; hence a dangerous fire and explosion risk [Hawley]. Strongly reduced material such as sulfides, nitrides, and hydrides may react explosively. Vigorous reactions with other reducing agents. With charcoal sometimes ignites. [Bretherick, 5th ed., 1995, p. 1194]. |
| Health Hazard | Contact with liquid irritates eyes and skin. Ingestion causes irritation of mouth and stomach. |
| Health Hazard | Lauroyl peroxide is a mild eye irritant; theirritation from 500 mg/day in rabbits’ eyeswas mild. It is nontoxic. Prolonged exposureto laboratory animals caused tumors at thesite of application. However, the evidence ofcarcinogenicity in animals is inadequate todate. |
| Fire Hazard | Behavior in Fire: Can increase the severity of a fire. Becomes sensitive to shock when hot. Containers may explode in a fire. May ignite or explode spontaneously if mixed with flammable materials. |
| Flammability and Explosibility | Notclassified |
| Carcinogenicity | The International Agency for Research on Cancer has evaluated the carcinogenicity of
lauroyl peroxide. They classified it as a Group 3 material,
which means there is limited or inadequate evidence for
animals and inadequate or absent information for
humans . The carcinogenicity of this peroxide has primarily
been studied using skin applications. After a single
topical application of 10, 20, or 40 mg of lauroyl peroxide,
the epidermal thickness increased markedly. This hyperplasia
was characterized by a sustained production of dark basal
keratinocytes. This peroxide is inactive as a tumor
initiator or as a complete carcinogen. However, it is as
effective as benzoyl peroxide as a skin tumor promoter. |
| storage | Store in a well-ventilated, cool area, isolatedfrom other chemicals. It is shippedin fiber drums not exceeding 100 lb. Smallamounts may be shipped in 1-lb fiberboardboxes. |
| Purification Methods | Crystallise it from n-hexane or *benzene and store it below 0o. Potentially EXPLOSIVE. [cf Beilstein 2 IV 1102.] |
| Waste Disposal | Although lauroyl peroxide is relatively lesshazardous, it is recommended that to handlespills and disposal, the same safety measuresbe followed as those for other hazardousorganic peroxides. |
