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Chemical Datasheet

PERACETIC ACID

5.2 - Organic peroxide

Chemical Identifiers

CAS Number UN/NA Number DOT Hazard Label USCG CHRIS Code
  • 79-21-0   (PERACETIC ACID)
  • 3107
  • Organic Peroxide
  • PAA
NIOSH Pocket Guide International Chem Safety Card
none
  • PERACETIC ACID (stabilized)
NFPA 704
Diamond Hazard Value Description
2
3 4
ox
Blue Health 3 Can cause serious or permanent injury.
Red Flammability 2 Must be moderately heated or exposed to relatively high ambient temperatures before ignition can occur.
Yellow Instability 4 Readily capable of detonation or explosive decomposition or explosive reaction at normal temperatures and pressures.
White Special OX Possesses oxidizing properties.
(NFPA, 2010)
General Description
Colorless liquid with a strong, pungent acrid odor. Used as a bactericide and fungicide, especially in food processing; as a reagent in making caprolactam and glycerol; as an oxidant for preparing epoxy compounds; as a bleaching agent; a sterilizing agent; and as a polymerization catalyst for polyester resins. (EPA, 1998)

Hazards

Reactivity Alerts
Air & Water Reactions
Soluble in water
Fire Hazard
Decomposes violently at 230F. When heated to decomposition, this compound emits acrid smoke and fumes. Runoff to sewer may create a fire or explosion hazard. Powerful oxidizer. Isolate from other stored material, particularly accelerators, oxidizers, and organic or flammable materials. Avoid shock and heat. Hazardous polymerization may not occur. (EPA, 1998)
Health Hazard
This is a very toxic compound. The probable human oral lethal dose is 50-500 mg/kg, or between 1 teaspoon and 1 ounce for a 150 pound person. (EPA, 1998)
Reactivity Profile
Self-reactive. Peracids should be handled only in small quantities and with extreme care when pure or very concentrated. Organic peracids, such as peracetic acid, are so unstable that they may explode during distillation, even under reduced pressure [NFPA 1991].
Belongs to the Following Reactive Group(s)
Potentially Incompatible Absorbents

Use caution: Liquids with this reactive group classification have been known to react with the absorbents listed below.

Response Recommendations

Isolation and Evacuation
Excerpt from ERG Guide 145 [Organic Peroxides (Heat and Contamination Sensitive)]:

IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE: Isolate spill or leak area in all directions for at least 50 meters (150 feet) for liquids and at least 25 meters (75 feet) for solids.

LARGE SPILL: Consider initial evacuation for at least 250 meters (800 feet) in all directions.

FIRE: If tank, rail tank car or highway tank is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions. (ERG, 2024)
Firefighting
If fire occurs in the vicinity of this compound, water should be used to keep containers cool. Cleanup and salvage operations should not be attempted until all of the peroxyacetic acid solution has cooled completely. Keep unnecessary people away; wear self-contained breathing apparatus and full protective clothing.

Fight fires from an explosion-resistant location. In advanced or massive fires, area should be evacuated. For small fires: use dry chemical, carbon dioxide, water spray, or foam. For large fires: flood area with water. (EPA, 1998)
Non-Fire Response
Caution : Peracetic acid is a strong oxidizer. Fire or other violent reactions may occur upon contact with combustible organic material.

Avoid breathing vapors. Do not touch the spilled material; shut off all ignition sources and stop the leak if this can be done without risk. The spilled material should be absorbed with a noncombustible absorbent such as vermiculite. Sweep up and place in a metal container for immediate disposal. Do not use spark-generating metals or organic materials for sweeping up or handling spilled material. Dispose of the absorbed peroxyacetic acid solution, in small quantities at a time, by placing it on the ground in a remote outdoor area and igniting with a long torch. Empty containers should be washed with a 10% sodium hydroxide solution. (EPA, 1998)
Protective Clothing
For emergency situations, wear a positive pressure, pressure-demand, full facepiece self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) or pressure- demand supplied air respirator with escape SCBA and a fully-encapsulating, chemical resistant suit. (EPA, 1998)
DuPont Tychem® Suit Fabrics
Normalized Breakthrough Times (in Minutes)
Chemical CAS Number State QS QC SL C3 TF TP RC TK RF
Peracetic Acid (32%) 79-21-0 Liquid 272 >480 >480
> indicates greater than.

Special Warning from DuPont: Tychem® and Tyvek® fabrics should not be used around heat, flames, sparks or in potentially flammable or explosive environments. Only...

(DuPont, 2024)

First Aid
Signs and Symptoms of Acute Peracetic Acid Exposure: Signs and symptoms of acute ingestion of peracetic acid may include corrosion of mucous membranes of mouth, throat, and esophagus with immediate pain and dysphagia (difficulty swallowing); ingestion may cause gastrointestinal tract irritation. Inhalation of vapors or fumes may result in respiratory tract irritation; peracetic acid is highly irritating to the skin and eyes.

Emergency Life-Support Procedures: Acute exposure to peracetic acid may require decontamination and life support for the victims. Emergency personnel should wear protective clothing appropriate to the type and degree of contamination. Air-purifying or supplied-air respiratory equipment should also be worn, as necessary. Rescue vehicles should carry supplies such as plastic sheeting and disposable plastic bags to assist in preventing spread of contamination.

Inhalation Exposure:
1. Move victims to fresh air. Emergency personnel should avoid self-exposure to peracetic acid.
2. Evaluate vital signs including pulse and respiratory rate, and note any trauma. If no pulse is detected, provide CPR. If not breathing, provide artificial respiration. If breathing is labored, administer oxygen or other respiratory support.
3. Obtain authorization and/or further instructions from the local hospital for administration of an antidote or performance of other invasive procedures.
4. Transport to a health care facility.

Dermal/Eye Exposure:
1. Remove victims from exposure. Emergency personnel should avoid self- exposure to peracetic acid.
2. Evaluate vital signs including pulse and respiratory rate, and note any trauma. If no pulse is detected, provide CPR. If not breathing, provide artificial respiration. If breathing is labored, administer oxygen or other respiratory support.
3. Remove contaminated clothing as soon as possible.
4. If eye exposure has occurred, eyes must be flushed with lukewarm water for at least 15 minutes.
5. Wash exposed skin areas THOROUGHLY with soap and water.
6. Obtain authorization and/or further instructions from the local hospital for administration of an antidote or performance of other invasive procedures.
7. Transport to a health care facility.

Ingestion Exposure:
1. Evaluate vital signs including pulse and respiratory rate, and note any trauma. If no pulse is detected, provide CPR. If not breathing, provide artificial respiration. If breathing is labored, administer oxygen or other respiratory support.
2. DO NOT induce vomiting or attempt to neutralize!
3. Obtain authorization and/or further instructions from the local hospital for administration of an antidote or performance of other invasive procedures.
4. Activated charcoal is of no value.
5. Give the victims water or milk: children up to 1 year old, 125 mL (4 oz or 1/2 cup); children 1 to 12 years old, 200 mL (6 oz or 3/4 cup); adults, 250 mL (8 oz or 1 cup). Water or milk should be given only if victims are conscious and alert.
6. Transport to a health care facility. (EPA, 1998)

Physical Properties

Chemical Formula:
  • C2H4O3
Flash Point: 105°F Peracetic Acid, 60% Acetic Acid Solution (EPA, 1998)
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL): data unavailable
Upper Explosive Limit (UEL): data unavailable
Autoignition Temperature: 392°F (USCG, 1999)
Melting Point: -22 to 32°F (EPA, 1998)
Vapor Pressure: data unavailable
Vapor Density (Relative to Air): data unavailable
Specific Gravity: 1.226 at 59°F (EPA, 1998) - Denser than water; will sink
Boiling Point: 221°F at 760 mmHg (EPA, 1998)
Molecular Weight: 76.05 (EPA, 1998)
Water Solubility: data unavailable
Ionization Energy/Potential: data unavailable
IDLH: data unavailable

AEGLs (Acute Exposure Guideline Levels)

Final AEGLs for Peracetic Acid (79-21-0)
Exposure Period AEGL-1 AEGL-2 AEGL-3
10 minutes 0.52 mg/m3 1.6 mg/m3 60 mg/m3
30 minutes 0.52 mg/m3 1.6 mg/m3 30 mg/m3
60 minutes 0.52 mg/m3 1.6 mg/m3 15 mg/m3
4 hours 0.52 mg/m3 1.6 mg/m3 6.3 mg/m3
8 hours 0.52 mg/m3 1.6 mg/m3 4.1 mg/m3
(NAC/NRC, 2024)

ERPGs (Emergency Response Planning Guidelines)

No ERPG information available.

PACs (Protective Action Criteria)

Chemical PAC-1 PAC-2 PAC-3
Peracetic acid (79-21-0) 0.52 mg/m3 1.6 mg/m3 15 mg/m3
(DOE, 2024)

Regulatory Information

EPA Consolidated List of Lists

Regulatory Name CAS Number/
313 Category Code
EPCRA 302
EHS TPQ
EPCRA 304
EHS RQ
CERCLA RQ EPCRA 313
TRI
RCRA
Code
CAA 112(r)
RMP TQ
Ethaneperoxoic acid 79-21-0 500 pounds 500 pounds X 10000 pounds
Peracetic acid 79-21-0 500 pounds 500 pounds 313 10000 pounds

(EPA List of Lists, 2024)

CISA Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS)

RELEASE THEFT SABOTAGE
Chemical of Interest CAS Number Min Conc STQ Security
Issue
Min Conc STQ Security
Issue
Min Conc STQ Security
Issue
Peracetic acid; [Ethaneperoxic acid] 79-21-0 1.00 % 10000 pounds flammable

(CISA, 2007)

OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard List

Chemical Name CAS Number Threshold Quantity (TQ)
Peracetic Acid (concentration >60% Acetic Acid; also called Peroxyacetic Acid) 79-21-0 1000 pounds
Peroxyacetic Acid (concentration >60% Acetic Acid; also called Peracetic Acid) 79-21-0 1000 pounds

(OSHA, 2019)

Alternate Chemical Names