Last time we discussed about the ethanol and its solution for storage. Today we are going to discuss about its brother: Ether.
Ether is widely used in health care industry and well known as antiseptic to prevent infection when an injection is made, also it is used as an anaesthetic in hospitals to help people go to sleep or become unconscious during surgery.
Ether is created from the chemical action between ethanol and sulfuric acid, so its physical and chemical characteristic is close to ethanol: it is highly flammable, volatile, easily to form explosive peroxides. In fact it is so easy to form peroxide that any exposure to light and air would enhance the formation, which makes this chemical extremely dangerous with prolonged storage. No matter Ethyl ether, isopropyl ether, tetrahydrofuran or many other ethers tend to absorb and react with oxygen from the air to form unstable peroxides that may concentrated by evaporation or distillation, and when combined with other compounds that give a detonatable mixture, or when disturbed by unusual heat, shock, or friction, the whole thing would become extreme violence. That is how we get unexpected explosions.
Ether would ignite at temperature at or above 160 C (320 F). The vapor forms explosive mixtures in air at concentration of 1.9-36% by volume. The flash point of ethyl ether is -45 C (-49 F). Though there is no evidence show refrigerated storage prevent formation of peroxides, but it is frequently stored under refrigeration.
So, when we are storing ether, keep the containers sealed, DO NOT expose your ether in air for long, no matter it is glass made bottle or outdoor steel tanks. Good ventilation would be needed to make sure the vapors got no way to mix with air and create explosive mixtures with other compounds. Make your room temperature below 26 C, it should be cool. DO NOT store ether with Oxidant, DO NOT store big amount of ether, and DO NOT expose it to source of heat and ignition. When your ether has not been opened for long time, it is better not open it without protection. Also, make sure the containers for ether are kept with spill containment solutions.
How we ZOYET would do this?
First you need a qualified cabinet to make sure you and your chemical stay safe. A special made storage cabinet for chemical, fire proofed comply with EN-14470-1 would be ready for you. Meanwhile we would prepare PP tray for your ether containers just in case there is leakage.
Then you need ventilation system connected to the cabinet, it includes extraction fan and filtration system to make sure the vapors would be extracted out to the atmosphere, in clean condition complied with NFPA and your local regulation of environmental protection.
For large amount of ether, store them outside your building, keep a distance of 15 meters. Our explosion proof outdoor container would be perfect choice for you to keep your ether in stable condition. It has temperature control, ventilation, ex-proof electrical system, and most importantly the pressure relief structure to make you safe when explosion actually happens. It is weather proof, fire proof and explosion proof, capable of all kinds of customization you like.
And if you need further technical support from us, please do not be hesitate to contact us!
