Ammonium persulfate

Description

Persulfates are strong oxidizing agents widely used in the production of metals, textiles, photographs, cellophane, rubber, adhesive papers, foods, soaps, detergents and hair bleaches. Ammonium persulfate is used as a hair bleaching agent. It may induce irritant dermatitis, contact urticaria and allergic contact dermatitis and represents a major allergen in hairdressers.

Chemical properties

Off-white crystalline powder

Chemical properties

Ammonium persulfate is a colorless or white crystalline solid.

The Uses of Ammonium persulfate

Ammonium Persulfate is a bleaching agent for food starch that is used up to 0.075% and with sulfur dioxide up to 0.05%.

The Uses of Ammonium persulfate

Used for detection and determination of manganese and iron.

The Uses of Ammonium persulfate

As oxidizer and bleacher; to remove hypo; reducer and retarder in photography; in dyeing, manufacture of aniline dyes; oxidizer for copper; etching zinc; decolorizing and deodorizing oils; electroplating; washing infected yeast; removing pyrogallol stains; making soluble starch; depolarizer in electric batteries; In animal chemistry chiefly for detection and determination of manganese.

What are the applications of Application

Ammonium persulfate is APS catalyst for acrylamide gel polymerization and also used with TEMED to promote polymerization

General Description

A white crystalline solid. A strong oxidizing agent. Does not burn readily, but may cause spontaneous ignition of organic materials. Used as a bleaching agent and as a food preservative.

Air & Water Reactions

Soluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

Ammonium persulfate is a potent oxidizing agent. A powdered mixture with aluminum and water can explode [NFPA 491M 1991]. A mixture with sodium peroxide will explode if subjected to friction (crushing in a mortar), heating, or if a stream of carbon dioxide is passed over Ammonium persulfate [Mellor 10:464 1946-47]. Acidic solutions dissolve iron violently, [Mellor, 1947, Vol. 10, 470].

Hazard

Fire risk in contact with reducers.

Health Hazard

Inhalation produces slight toxic effects. Contact with dust irritates eyes and causes skin rash.

Flammability and Explosibility

Non flammable

Contact allergens

Persulfates are strong oxidizing agents widely used in the production of metals, textiles, photographs, cellophane, rubber, adhesive papers, foods, soaps, detergents, and hair bleaches. Ammonium persulfate is used as a hair bleaching agent. It may induce irritant dermatitis, (mainly) nonimmunologic contact urticaria, and allergic contact dermatitis and represents a major allergen in hairdressers. People reacting to ammonium persulfate also react to other persulfates such as potassium persulfate.

Safety Profile

Poison by intravenous and intraperitoneal routes. Moderately toxic by ingestion. A powerful oxidizer that can react vigorously with reducing agents. Releases oxygen when heated. Mxtures with sodium peroxide are explosives sensitive to friction, heating above 75℃, or contact with CO2 or water. Mixtures with (powdered aluminum + water) or (zinc + ammonia) are explosive. Violent reaction with iron or solutions of ammonia + silver salts. Solution with sulfuric acid is a strong oxidzing cleaning solution. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of SO,, NH3, and NOx.

Potential Exposure

It is used as a bleaching agent, in photographic chemicals, and to make dyes. It is also used as an ingredient of polymerization catalysts.

Shipping

UN1444 Ammonium persulfate, Hazard Class: 5.1; Labels: 5.1-Oxidizer

Purification Methods

Recrystallise it at room temperature from EtOH/water. It gradually loses NH3 on exposure to air. Its solubility is 0.5g/mL at 20o, and 2g/mL at 100o.

Incompatibilities

Decomposes in water and moist air, forming oxygen gas. A strong oxidizer; reacts with reducing agents; organic and combustible materials. Incompatible with heat, sodium peroxide (produces a friction-, heat-, and water-sensitive explosive); aluminum powder.

Waste Disposal

May be treated with large volumes of water, neutralized and flushed to sewer. This applies to small quantities only.