On Tue, 28 Nov 2000 17:38:30 -0000, Dave Cushman <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

>.. a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide added
>This sounds dangerous to me...Does anyone have any experience of this
>technique?
Mark Jensen replied:
I use H2O2 to lighten the colour of already clean filtered beeswax. I add
about a cup of 35% H2O2 (not the 3% from the drugstore) to about 90 lbs. of
wax at about 180 deg F.

In the early 90's I was involved in the project execution of a Hydrogen
Peroxide plant in Umbogintwini, Kwa-Zulu Natal. I would like to sound a word
of warning to anyone who wants to use H2O2.  In the purer forms it is
extremely unstable and will break down rapidly in the presence of heat.  If
it comes into contact with carbon materials (such as wood, paper, etc.) it
will spontaneously ignite. Environmentally it is a very friendly chemical
breaking down into water and oxygen.  The problem is that when it breaks
down in a container it can cause an explosion.  I have seen the effects of a
container placed in the boot of a car (I think referred to as truck in other
countries) where during the heat of the day, it started breaking down, the
pressure build up caused the lid to crack and H2O2 started spraying about.
A box of tissues ignited, fuelled by the supply of oxygen, I leave your
imagination to tell the rest of the story.

Regards
Eddy Lear
South Africa