Hydrogen Peroxide Storage, Handling and Safety Requirements: A Complete Guide

Hydrogen peroxide, also known as hydrogen dioxide and by the formula H₂O₂, is a chemical compound used primarily as an environmentally-friendly oxidiser (or oxidant), deodoriser, bleaching agent, and antiseptic.

This post provides a complete guide to the safe handling and storage of hydrogen peroxide for any workplace in Australia.

What is Hydrogen Peroxide?

Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is also known by the chemical formula H₂O₂

In its pure form at room temperature, hydrogen peroxide is a colourless, slightly viscous, inorganic liquid with a weakly acidic pH, a bitter taste and a characteristic sharp odour. Tiny amounts of gaseous hydrogen peroxide occur naturally in the air around us.

Pure hydrogen peroxide is denser than water; it freezes at minus 0.43°C (31.3°F) and boils at 150.2°C (302°F).

Hydrogen peroxide is biochemically formed in human bodies and the bodies of other animals but it is actually toxic to cells.

Hydrogen peroxide is the simplest in the peroxide class, which means its molecules contain two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to one another. Because H₂O₂ is miscible - or totally soluble in water (H₂O) - it’s able to be produced commercially in aqueous solutions of various concentrations or strengths.

What is Hydrogen Peroxide Used For?

Hydrogen peroxide is recognised as one of the cleanest and most versatile of all chemicals. Its strong oxidising properties make it a powerful bleaching agent and popular disinfectant.

Since its discovery by Louis Jacques Thénard in 1818, hydrogen peroxide has been used industrially and in laboratories in concentrations of up to 98 percent purity.

Hydrogen peroxide is a staple inside many of today’s households at much lower concentrations - generally only 3 to 9% - in certain medicines and as a bleaching agent for clothes and human hair.

In industry applications, higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide are used as a bleaching agent for paper and textiles, for producing common organic chemicals and foam rubber, and in rocket engine fuel.

Hydrogen peroxide is used as an exceptionally efficient, non polluting oxidising agent, thanks to its low molecular weight. Other industrial uses typically involve the preparation of other peroxides.

Common Industrial Applications of Hydrogen Peroxide (H₂O₂)

Industry	Application
Wood Pulp and Paper	Bleaching of chemical and mechanical pulps De-inking agent in paper recycling
Textiles and Clothing	Prime bleaching agent for treating natural and synthetic fibres - cotton (stone-washed effect), wool, linen, silk, and rayon Provides a high degree of brightness while preserving fibres’ mechanical properties
Cleaning and Sanitisation	Detergent manufacturing Percarbonates, perborates, and peracids Liquid H₂O₂ bleach
Chemical Synthesis and Polymers	Organic and inorganic peroxides Organic solvents Epoxides, oxides and specialty/performance chemicals More efficient oxidising agent than alternatives
Food and Beverage	Microbiologically safe reagent used in aseptic packaging (milk, fruit juice, etc.) Sterilising agent for internal aseptic zones of manufacturing machines Neutralising agent in wine distillation Bacterial disinfecting agent Bleaching high-fibre additives
Electronics	High-quality electronic grade H2O2 used as an oxidising and cleaning agent for semiconductor manufacturing Cleaning and etching of printed circuits boards Electroplating
Environment	Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) uses hydroxyl radicals to decompose toxic substances Potable and wastewater treatment Organic pollutant treatment and bioremediation Chlorine, sulphide, and cyanide removal Municipal odour control
Mining and Natural Resource Extraction	Oxygen source and oxidising agent in mining Leaching enhancement for gold, silver and uranium ore extraction Hydraulic fracturing biocide
Medicines, Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics	Mouthwash Contact lens cleaner Acne treatmen First aid Teeth whitening agent (carbamide peroxide) Antimicrobial agent in hair dying
Transportation	High concentration H2O2 used as a propellant for hypergolic bipropellant rocket engines - in monopropellant systems and launch vehicles

How Do You Make Hydrogen Peroxide Industrially?

The production of hydrogen peroxide increased dramatically in the mid-1920s following the introduction of electrolytic processes and after industrial bleach applications were developed.

Today, hydrogen peroxide is primarily manufactured using the anthraquinone process, the procedures for which were formalised and patented in the 1930s.

Manufacturing H2O2 essentially involves the catalysis of the reaction of H2 (hydrogen) with atmospheric O2 (oxygen) to form H2O2. The anthraquinone - a type of hydrocarbon - is used and reused as the H2 carrier in a cyclic operation.

Along with a number of ancillary processes, the cyclic anthraquinone process consists of four sequential stages:

Hydrogenation
Filtration
Oxidation
Extraction

Hydrogen Peroxide Extraction from the Sequential Anthraquinone Process

Step1: Hydrogenation	Step 2: Filtration
Palladium catalyses the reaction between H2 and anthraquinone (Q) to form anthrahydroquinone (H₂Q): Q + H₂ → H₂Q	Palladium catalyst is filtered from the solution
Step 3: Oxidation	Step 4: H₂O₂ Extraction
Blowing air through solution causes oxidation, forming H₂O₂: H₂Q + O₂ → Q + H₂O₂	H₂O₂ is removed in a liquid-liquid extraction column and concentrated using vacuum distillation

What are the Commercial Grades of Hydrogen Peroxide?

The main commercial grades of hydrogen peroxide are aqueous solutions containing either 20, 27, 30, 35, 50, 60, 70, or 90 percent hydrogen peroxide and minimal quantities of stabilisers - typically tin salts and phosphates - to help suppress any decomposition.

Why is Hydrogen Peroxide Dangerous?

Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful oxidising agent and explosive vapours can form if it comes into contact with certain organic compounds.

Although hydrogen peroxide is not flammable, it generates significant amounts of oxygen when it is decomposing and that supports combustion.

Hazards Associated with Hydrogen Peroxide

In either pure or diluted form, hydrogen peroxide can be hazardous to human health.

Toxicological Properties of Hydrogen Peroxide

Type of Exposure to H₂O₂	Effect of Exposure to H₂O₂
Effect on the skin	Concentrations of H₂O₂ > 5% w/w (weight per weight) can cause irritation or burns Severity increases with concentration
Effect on the eyes	Even diluted H₂O₂ splashing in the eyes causes pain Concentrations of H₂O₂ > 6% w/w can cause severe and permanent damage
Effect of ingestion (swallowing)	Ingesting H₂O₂ can cause burns to the mouth, throat, oesophagus and stomach, and internal distension from evolved oxygen Ingestion of commercial strength H₂O₂ can be fatal
Effect of inhalation (breathing)	Inhalation of H₂O₂ vapour or mist irritates the respiratory tract Occupational exposure limit or threshold limit value (TLV) is 1.0ppm (1.4mg H₂O₂/m3 air) for normal 8hr/day and 40hr/week period

Household-grade concentrations of hydrogen peroxide are generally safe to use, but they should never be ingested (swallowed). Decomposition of the chemical in the stomach releases significant amounts of gas - as much as ten times the volume of a typical domestic-strength three per cent solution - which can lead to painful or harmful internal bloating.

People should especially avoid contact with airborne hydrogen peroxide mist. Inhalation of concentrations above 10 per cent can cause severe pulmonary irritation. Exposing the eyes to concentrations of five per cent or higher can cause permanent vision loss or damage to mucous membranes. Solutions containing more than about eight per cent hydrogen peroxide can lead to blisters, burns and whitening of the skin.

In industrial and laboratory settings where high concentrations of the chemical are used for a variety of applications, hydrogen peroxide can pose serious health and safety hazards. Higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide can be particularly unstable and can contribute to a Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion or BLEVE.

Watch this brief video for an explanation of how a BLEVE occurs.

Hydrogen Peroxide Safety and Handling

Due to the many potential hazards associated with the handling and storage of this chemical, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) should be handled with care.

The National Transport Commision (NTC) sets out the requirements for handling and transporting dangerous goods, including hydrogen peroxide, in the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road & Rail (ADG Code). Edition 7.6 of the Code is mandatory as of 1 July 2019.

Australian Dangerous Goods Code Classifications - Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen Peroxide is a strong oxidising agent that also has corrosive properties.

It meets the Australian Dangerous Goods Code classification criteria for both:

Class 5 - Division 5.1 - Oxidising Substances; and
Class 8 - Corrosive Substances

Hydrogen Peroxide has a greater oxidising ability than corrosion ability and is therefore given a Class 5 - Division 5.1 Dangerous Goods classification. It also has a subsidiary hazard classification of Class 8 to cover its corrosive hazard. The signage and definitions for theses dangerous goods classifications are shown below:

CLASS 5 - DIVISION 5.1

Oxidising Substances

The Australian Dangerous Goods Code defines Oxidising Substances as:
Substances which, while in themselves not necessarily combustible, may, generally by yielding oxygen, cause, or contribute to, the combustion of other material. Such substances may be contained in an article.

The Australian Standard that outlines the storage and handling requirements for oxidising agents is:

AS 4326:2008 - The storage and handling of oxidising agents

CLASS 8

Corrosive Substances

The Australian Dangerous Goods Code defines Corrosive Substances as:
Class 8 substances (corrosive substances) are substances which, by chemical action, will cause severe damage when in contact with living tissue, or, in the case of leakage, will materially damage, or even destroy, other goods or the means of transport.

The Australian Standard that outlines the storage and handling requirements for corrosive substances is:

AS 3780:2008 - The storage and handling of corrosive substances

AS 3780:2008/Amdt 1-2009 - The storage and handling of corrosive substances (2009 Amendment)

How to Store H₂O₂ Safely Indoors and Outdoors

The Australian Standard AS 4326:2008 outlines the correct methods for storing and handling oxidising agents, including hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Importantly, this standard stipulates that all cabinets and stores used to store oxidants conform to the Australian Dangerous Goods Code.

There are three main factors required for oxidising agent storage to comply with Australian Standard AS 4326-2008:

Each cabinet holds no more than the permitted maximum amount of oxidising agent.
Cabinets are constructed to ensure their contents are protected from outside contamination and eliminate the risk of a dangerous reaction with any contaminants.
The construction of all package stores shall be constructed of non-combustible material that are resistant to oxidising agent.

Hydrogen Peroxide Storage Cabinet Capacity

The maximum quantity of oxidising agents such as hydrogen peroxide that can be stored in each cabinet depends on the cabinet’s location.

A cabinet designed for indoor storage may hold no more than 250L/kg of an oxidising chemical.
The maximum limit for an outdoor storage cabinet or unit is a much higher 850L/kg.

Smaller quantities of hydrogen peroxide can be stored safely indoors using an oxidising agent storage cabinet.

250L two-door chemical safety cabinet

Larger quanties of hydrogen peroxide can be stored safely outdoors using relocatable outdoor storage units.

1000L relocatable outdoor IBC storage unit

Hydrogen Peroxide Storage Cabinet Construction Requirements

Cabinets used to store oxidising chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide must adhere to the strict requirements in terms of their size and construction. All sides of a cabinet must from double-walled sheet steel, with at least 40mm of space between the walls. The space inside the cabinet can be used to contain a non-flammable material or left empty.

Any cabinet shelves must be perforated to allow air to move freely within the cabinet. If ventilation is required, vents must be directed away from any potential sources of ignition and areas where anyone can congregate or move through. Cabinet ventilation must be sufficient to minimise potential exposure to any vapour or dust present in the storage area, in line with recommended workplace exposure standards for chemicals.

Cabinet doors must be self-closing and close-fitting with no air-gaps between the doors and the body of the cabinet. Doors must also have catches that are not made of plastic or zinc die. These catches must automatically release in the event of an increase in pressure within the cabinet.

AS 4326:2008 also stipulates that the lower compound of indoor storage cabinets must be at least 150mm deep and large enough to hold at least 25 per cent of the cabinet’s total capacity. The cabinet’s sump must also be liquid-tight to prevent any spillage contaminating the workplace. Spill trays and Portable collapsible bunds can be used to collect spills and prevent corrosion.

Hydrogen Peroxide Storage in manufacturing and handling areas

To ensure your chemical storage and handling areas fully compliant with WHS Legislation and Australian Safety Standards spill bunding must be non-combustible material. We recommend using steel bunds with polyethylene liners to combat the corrosive properties. STOREMASTA spill bunds are manufactured to Australian Standards and built for the tough Australian climate. They are long lasting and have forklift channels for safe transfer around the job site.

Safety Data Sheet - Hydrogen Peroxide

Products containing higher concentrations are often accompanied by a Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

Download these free Safety Data Sheet (SDS) - Hydrogen Peroxide examples:

How to Correctly Manage Chemical Hazards

Every Australian business has an obligation under the relevant sections of the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations to eliminate chemical hazards. If your business is unable to completely eliminate these hazards in the workplace, you need to follow the Hierarchy of Controls and find ways to minimise or control these hazards.

Next steps

Dangerous goods storage specialists STOREMASTA have developed an eBook which explains how to use the Hierarchy of Controls to control the risks associated with hazardous chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). This free eBook helps you select the most effective risk control measures and implement all the required mandatory controls according to the current legislation.

Controlling-risks-associated-with-hazardous-chemicals_1