PEC Guidance

Exploding beaker

Managing potentially explosive chemical (PEC) inventory (expiration emails):

  • Login to Chematix (https://chematix.uga.edu) and click the Inventory tab
  • Click the Generate PEC Expiration Aging Report link under the sub-header Hazard Maintenance*
  • Click the radio button next to the chemical to be updated**
  • Click Update Expiry Date button
  • Read the warning message carefully – extending an expiration date for a chemical is allowable based on your negative tests for peroxide formation as well as your expert knowledge and understanding of the chemical’s properties (6 month max, please).
    • Enter the new expiration date in the Expiration Date field
    • Click Submit
  • A green banner will appear indicating a successful update

*If you do not see this link it means that you have not been added to a lab location in the system.  Contact us at chematix@uga.edu or call 706-542-5801 to have this corrected

**If you do not see the radio button (a circular clickable selection dot), your role in the system is not set as the lab supervisor.  Contact us at chematix@uga.edu or call 706-542-5801 to have this corrected

Note:  If a PEC is submitted for hazardous waste pickup, you will continue receiving email expiration notifications until it has been received into the hazardous waste facility.

Peroxide Testing Kit

PEC Testing Instructions

Peroxide test strips may be purchased via UGA Mart or an outside vendor.

  1. Dip test strip into test solution for 1 second.
  2. Gently off excess liquid.
  3. If testing for peroxides in an organic solvent (any solvent with a carbon-hydrogen bond) add one drop of DI water after evaporation of the solvent.
  4. Wait 5 seconds.
  5. Compare test field with color scale (shown below). If hydrogen peroxide is present, the test field turns blue

NOTE: Color changes after 1 minute do not represent a positive reaction.

Reading the results

1-25 ppm- Material safe to use and to distill.

26-99 ppm- Material is safe to use, but not safe to distill.

100 and above ppm-  Do not use, submit a request to dispose of the chemical with the UGA hazardous materials program.

After testing, affix the label shown below. Be sure to log test date and test results. Retesting should be conducting every six months there after. Labels are available through the Office of Research Safety. To request labels, please call 706-542-5288.