Incompatible chemicals are substances that react dangerously on contact — releasing heat, toxic gas, or fire. The core incompatible pairs are acids with bases, acids with cyanide or sulfide salts, acids with bleach, oxidizers with flammable solvents, and water-reactive materials with anything aqueous. Store each of these groups separately, in its own secondary containment, and never in a shared spill tray.

What chemicals should never be stored together?

This is the short list every receiving dock and chemical store should have posted. Each row is a pair that must not share containment, a shelf, or a spill pallet.

NOAA and EPA maintain the authoritative dataset behind these predictions in CAMEO Chemicals reactivity groups, which will predict the outcome for any two specific substances you enter.

Why does chemical segregation matter more than a locked cabinet?

Most storage incidents are not caused by someone deliberately mixing two chemicals. They are caused by a leaking drum, a cracked tote valve, or an over-full spill pallet that lets two spills find each other on the floor. A cabinet keeps material contained; segregation is what decides whether a small containment failure stays small.

That is the reason segregation is organized by hazard class rather than by alphabet, product line, or purchase order. Storing acetic acid next to acetone because both start with “acet” is exactly the failure mode segregation exists to prevent.

What are the main incompatibility groups?

Five groups cover most industrial inventories. Give each its own containment area.

1. Flammable and combustible liquids — solvents, alcohols, aromatics, ketones.
2. Oxidizers — nitric acid, peroxides, permanganates, chlorates, hypochlorites.
3. Acids — mineral and organic. Nitric acid is an oxidizer as well and is usually isolated from other acids.
4. Bases and caustics — sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, amines, ammonia solutions.
5. Water-reactive and air-reactive materials — alkali metals, carbides, acid chlorides, anhydrides.

Toxics and compressed gases are commonly handled as a sixth and seventh area depending on the site.

How does OSHA regulate flammable liquid storage?

OSHA’s flammable liquids standard, 29 CFR 1910.106, sets both the classification scheme and the cabinet limits. The flammable liquid categories are defined by flash point and boiling point:

Under 1910.106(d)(3)(i), a single storage cabinet may hold no more than 60 gallons of Category 1, 2, or 3 flammable liquids, or no more than 120 gallons of Category 4 flammable liquids. Under 1910.106(d)(3)(ii), the cabinet must limit its internal temperature to no more than 325 °F during a 10-minute standard fire test, and must be labeled in conspicuous lettering: “Flammable — Keep Fire Away.”

Read the standard directly at OSHA 29 CFR 1910.106. Note that the cabinet is a quantity limit, not a segregation strategy — a compliant cabinet full of mixed hazard classes is still a bad cabinet.

How should you physically separate incompatible chemicals?

• Separate secondary containment. Each hazard group gets its own spill pallet or bunded area. Never share a spill tray between acids and bases.
• Separate cabinets, not separate shelves. A shelf above another shelf shares a spill path.
• Corrosives low. Store acids and caustics at or below waist height so a dropped container does not reach eye level.
• Nitric acid alone. It behaves as an oxidizer; keep it out of the general acid cabinet.
• Date peroxide formers. Mark the receipt and open date on THF, ethers, and dioxane, and dispose of them on schedule.
• Label the storage area, not just the drum. Segregation only survives staff turnover if the area itself is signposted.

Every decision above starts with the SDS. Section 7 covers storage and Section 10 covers incompatible materials — see how to read a safety data sheet and how to read a GHS label on a chemical drum. Segregation rules also need to appear in your written program — see what a hazard communication program is.

Which RightPath products need segregated storage?

Most of the catalog falls into one of the five groups above. A few common examples:

• Sodium hydroxide 50% solution — caustic. Never share containment with any acid.
• Acetone — flammable liquid. Keep away from oxidizers; see how to store acetone safely.
• Mineral and organic acids across the bulk acid line — segregate from caustics and from cyanide and sulfide salts.
• Solvents across the bulk solvent line — see is acetonitrile flammable? for a worked example.

Every product RightPath ships arrives with an SDS, and the full SDS library is public so you can build your segregation map before the truck arrives. For classification during transport rather than storage, see DOT hazmat classes for solvents.

How do you get segregation-ready documentation from RightPath?

Send your product list and RightPath will return the current SDS set along with an all-in quote. If you are consolidating suppliers, ask for the documentation package up front rather than after delivery. Request bulk pricing.

Frequently asked questions

What are the five basic groups of incompatible chemicals?

Flammable and combustible liquids, oxidizers, acids, bases and caustics, and water-reactive or air-reactive materials. Each group needs its own storage area and its own secondary containment.

Can you store acids and bases in the same cabinet?

No. Acids and bases react exothermically. If both leak into a shared spill tray, the reaction boils and spatters corrosive liquid. Acids and bases require separate cabinets with separate secondary containment.

Why can’t you store bleach with acid?

Sodium hypochlorite reacts with acids to release chlorine gas. It reacts with ammonia and ammonium salts to release chloramine gases. Both are acutely toxic by inhalation.

Is nitric acid stored with other acids?

No. Nitric acid is a strong oxidizer as well as an acid, and it reacts violently with organic acids such as acetic acid and with solvents such as acetone and alcohols. Store it isolated from both the acid group and the flammables group.

How much flammable liquid can be stored in one cabinet?

Under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.106(d)(3)(i), a storage cabinet may hold no more than 60 gallons of Category 1, 2, or 3 flammable liquids, or no more than 120 gallons of Category 4 flammable liquids.

Where can I check whether two specific chemicals are compatible?

Use the NOAA CAMEO Chemicals reactivity tool, which predicts the reaction between any two substances in its database, and cross-check Section 10 of each product’s safety data sheet.

Xylene is sold in two dimensions: isomer composition and purity grade. Most industrial buyers purchase mixed xylenes (CAS 1330-20-7), a blend of the ortho, meta, and para isomers. Above that sit purity grades — standard or production, ACS, USP, HPLC, and high purity — along with single-isomer material such as p-xylene, bought as a chemical intermediate rather than as a solvent.

Which one you need depends on whether xylene is doing work as a solvent, as a feedstock, or as an analytical reagent. This guide separates the isomers from the grades, gives the hard numbers for each, and lists what to check on a certificate of analysis.

What is xylene?

Xylene, also called dimethylbenzene or xylol, is an aromatic hydrocarbon with the molecular formula C₈H₁₀ and a molecular weight of 106.16 g/mol, per the PubChem record for o-xylene (CID 7237); the meta (CID 7929) and para (CID 7809) isomers share the same formula and weight. It is a colorless liquid with an aromatic odor, used as a solvent and thinner for coatings, printing inks, adhesives, and rubber processing, as a chemical intermediate, and in laboratory histology.

Three structural isomers exist, differing only in where the two methyl groups sit on the benzene ring. Those small structural differences produce meaningfully different boiling and freezing points, which is exactly why the grades below exist.

What are the xylene isomers and how do they differ?

All values below are from the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards.

The freezing point of p-xylene is the number that surprises people. NIOSH notes that p-xylene is a solid below 56°F, so drums or totes of high-purity para material stored in an unheated warehouse over winter will solidify. Mixed xylenes do not have this problem, because the other isomers depress the freezing point.

What is mixed xylene?

Mixed xylenes (CAS 1330-20-7) is a blend of the ortho, meta, and para isomers, typically also containing ethylbenzene. It is the default commercial product and the form most solvent buyers mean when they say xylene. Because it is a blend, it distills over a range rather than at a single temperature, so specifications are written as a distillation range plus an aromatic content minimum rather than as a single-component purity.

If a formulation calls for a solvent with a specific evaporation rate, mixed xylene is usually the right and cheaper choice. If a process needs one isomer as a reactant, isomer-grade material is required and the price reflects the separation cost.

Which xylene grades can you buy?

The same logic applies across analytical solvents generally — our explainer on ACS vs HPLC vs reagent grade covers how these designations are written and why HPLC grade costs more than ACS for the same nominal purity. Buyers comparing aromatic solvents often also weigh toluene, which is lighter and faster-evaporating than xylene.

What should you check on a xylene certificate of analysis?

• Identity and CAS. 1330-20-7 for mixed xylenes; 95-47-6, 108-38-3, or 106-42-3 for single isomers.
• Distillation range. For mixed xylenes this is the primary performance number.
• Isomer distribution and ethylbenzene content, when the process is sensitive to either.
• Water content, which matters for coatings and for any moisture-sensitive reaction.
• Non-volatile residue, the number that separates analytical grades from production grades.
• Color, usually reported on the platinum-cobalt scale.

See how to read a certificate of analysis for a section-by-section walkthrough.

Is xylene hazardous?

Yes. All three isomers carry an OSHA permissible exposure limit of 100 ppm as an 8-hour TWA and a NIOSH recommended exposure limit of 100 ppm TWA with a 150 ppm short-term limit, per the NIOSH Pocket Guide. The IDLH is 900 ppm. All three are Class IC flammable liquids, with flash points between 81°F and 90°F, and all three are incompatible with strong oxidizers and strong acids. Exposure routes include inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion, and skin or eye contact.

Always work from the current safety data sheet for the exact grade you received — see our guide to reading a safety data sheet, and pull current documents from the RightPath SDS library. For converting between volume and weight when sizing an order, use the RightPath conversion tools.

What grades and sizes do we stock?

RightPath Industries supplies mixed xylenes in Standard/Production, ACS, USP, HPLC, and High Purity grades, available in gallons, pails, drums, totes, and bulk, packed to your specification and lot-controlled on request. Xylene sits in our aromatics and solvents ranges, alongside toluene and the rest of a catalog of more than 8,000 chemicals shipped from our Pittsburgh headquarters.

How do you order xylene from RightPath?

Send the grade, the packaging size, the annual or per-shipment volume, and the destination. We will cross-reference your current specification exactly and return pricing with the SDS and documentation package. Request bulk pricing for same-day response.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between xylene and mixed xylene?

Xylene names the compound C8H10 in any of its three isomeric forms. Mixed xylene is the commercial product, CAS 1330-20-7, that blends the ortho, meta, and para isomers and usually contains ethylbenzene. Most industrial solvent purchases are mixed xylene.

What is the flash point of xylene?

NIOSH lists flash points of 90°F for o-xylene, 82°F for m-xylene, and 81°F for p-xylene. All three are classified as Class IC flammable liquids, meaning a flash point at or above 73°F and below 100°F.

What is the OSHA exposure limit for xylene?

The OSHA permissible exposure limit for o-, m-, and p-xylene is 100 ppm (435 mg/m3) as an 8-hour time-weighted average. The NIOSH recommended exposure limit is also 100 ppm TWA, with a 150 ppm short-term exposure limit, and the IDLH is 900 ppm.

Which xylene grade is used in histology labs?

Pathology laboratories use histological grade xylene for clearing and deparaffinizing tissue sections. It is specified for consistent clearing performance and low residue rather than for a single-isomer purity target.

Does xylene freeze in cold storage?

High-purity p-xylene does. NIOSH notes p-xylene is a solid below 56°F. Mixed xylenes remain liquid at far lower temperatures because the other isomers depress the freezing point; m-xylene freezes at -54°F and o-xylene at -13°F.

“Hexane” is a family, not one product. n-Hexane (CAS 110-54-3) is the straight-chain isomer, and it is the only one NIOSH associates with peripheral neuropathy — its REL is 50 ppm against an OSHA PEL of 500 ppm. Mixed hexanes are the branched isomers, with a NIOSH REL of 100 ppm and no OSHA PEL. Cyclohexane (CAS 110-82-7) is a ring compound with its own 300 ppm limit.

What are the three products sold as "hexane"?

Order "hexane" from three suppliers and you can receive three different materials. All share the formula C₆H₁₄ except cyclohexane, and all look and smell alike, but their exposure limits and health effects diverge sharply.

• n-Hexane — the single straight-chain isomer, CAS 110-54-3. Sold at 95% or higher purity for extraction and analytical work. This is the regulated one.
• Mixed hexanes (hexane isomers) — a blend that NIOSH defines as all isomers of hexane except n-hexane: 2-methylpentane, 3-methylpentane, 2,2-dimethylbutane, 2,3-dimethylbutane, and related branched structures. Commercial "hexanes" typically still contain some n-hexane, which is why the blend assay matters.
• Cyclohexane — C₆H₁₂, CAS 110-82-7, a six-carbon ring rather than a chain. It is a different chemical entirely, freezes at 44 °F, and is used mainly as a nylon feedstock and a resin solvent.

How do n-hexane, mixed hexanes, and cyclohexane compare?

All values below come from the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards and PubChem.

To convert these densities into drum, tote, or tank-truck weights for a specific fill, use the RightPath chemical density and volume calculators.

Why does the n-hexane distinction matter?

Because the health effects are not the same. NIOSH lists the symptoms of n-hexane exposure as eye and nose irritation; nausea and headache; peripheral neuropathy, including numb extremities and muscle weakness; dermatitis; dizziness; and chemical pneumonitis on aspiration. The NIOSH entry for hexane isomers lists eye, skin, and respiratory irritation; headache; dizziness; nausea; chemical pneumonitis; and dermatitis — with no peripheral neuropathy.

That difference is why NIOSH sets the n-hexane REL at 50 ppm, ten times lower than the OSHA PEL of 500 ppm, and why many EHS programs specify low-n-hexane blends or substitute mixed hexanes wherever the process allows. If your industrial hygiene program is written around "hexane," confirm which material is actually in the tank — the exposure limit you are monitoring against depends on it.

Section 3 of the Safety Data Sheet gives the concentration range of n-hexane in a mixed-hexane product. See how to read a Safety Data Sheet for the full section breakdown.

Which hexane grade should you specify?

For deeper background on the chemical itself, see the Hexane properties, uses, and bulk supply guide. For what analytical grade designations actually mean, see ACS vs HPLC vs USP grade solvents.

How should hexane be stored and shipped?

All three are Class IB flammable liquids: flash point below 73 °F and boiling point at or above 100 °F. n-Hexane flashes at −7 °F and cyclohexane at 0 °F, so both require flammable-liquid storage, bonding and grounding during transfer, and ignition-source control. All three are incompatible with strong oxidizers.

Chain hexanes ship under UN1208 with ERG Guide 128; cyclohexane ships under UN1145, also Guide 128. Confirm the packing group and proper shipping name against Section 14 of the product SDS before generating a bill of lading. For the general framework, see DOT hazmat classes for solvents.

Cyclohexane has one storage quirk the chain hexanes do not: it freezes at 44 °F. Drums and totes stored in an unheated warehouse through winter can solidify and need to be re-liquefied before transfer.

What hexane grades and sizes does RightPath stock?

RightPath Industries is a Pittsburgh-headquartered bulk chemical distributor carrying over 8,000 chemicals, including all three hexane products.

The full aliphatic and aromatic solvent range is listed on the bulk solvent supplier page. To pick a container size against your draw rate, see Drum vs IBC Tote vs Bulk.

How do you order hexane from RightPath?

1. State which material you need — n-hexane 95%, mixed hexanes, or cyclohexane — and the grade (technical, ACS, or HPLC).
2. If n-hexane content is controlled by your EHS program, say so, and we will quote against the assay range you need.
3. Give the monthly or annual volume and delivery point so freight is priced into the quote, not added afterward.
4. Request bulk pricing for an all-in landed-cost quote, typically same day.
5. Pull the current sheet from the SDS library and request the lot COA before first shipment.

Frequently asked questions

Is hexane the same as n-hexane?

No. n-Hexane is one specific isomer, CAS 110-54-3. Commercial "hexane" or "hexanes" is usually a blend of C₆H₁₄ isomers that still contains some n-hexane. Because the exposure limits differ — a NIOSH REL of 50 ppm for n-hexane versus 100 ppm for the isomer blend — the two are not interchangeable on a specification sheet.

Which hexane is the toxic one?

n-Hexane. NIOSH lists peripheral neuropathy, including numb extremities and muscle weakness, among its exposure symptoms. The entry for hexane isomers does not list peripheral neuropathy. All hexanes cause irritation, dizziness, and dermatitis, and all present chemical pneumonitis risk if aspirated.

What is the OSHA exposure limit for hexane?

The OSHA PEL for n-hexane is 500 ppm (1800 mg/m³) as an 8-hour TWA. NIOSH recommends 50 ppm (180 mg/m³). OSHA has no PEL for the other hexane isomers; NIOSH recommends 100 ppm TWA with a 510 ppm 15-minute ceiling. Cyclohexane has an OSHA PEL and NIOSH REL of 300 ppm.

Is cyclohexane a type of hexane?

No. Cyclohexane is C₆H₁₂, a saturated six-carbon ring, while the hexanes are C₆H₁₄ open chains. Cyclohexane boils higher (80.7 °C versus 68.7 °C), is denser (0.78 versus 0.66), and freezes at 44 °F. It ships under a different UN number, UN1145.

How much does a gallon of hexane weigh?

About 5.5 pounds per US gallon for n-hexane, based on a specific gravity of 0.66. Cyclohexane weighs about 6.49 pounds per gallon at a specific gravity of 0.78. Hexane is one of the lightest common industrial solvents, which matters when you are comparing a price quoted per pound against one quoted per gallon.

Can I substitute mixed hexanes for n-hexane?

Often yes for degreasing, adhesives, and general solvent duty, and it usually lowers both cost and neurotoxicity exposure risk. Not for HPLC mobile phases, pharmaceutical crystallization, or any validated process where the boiling range and single-isomer solubility behavior are part of the specification.

Authoritative sources

• NIOSH Pocket Guide — n-Hexane
• NIOSH Pocket Guide — Hexane isomers
• NIOSH Pocket Guide — Cyclohexane
• PubChem CID 8058 — n-Hexane
• PubChem CID 8078 — Cyclohexane

Need a quote? Request bulk pricing from RightPath Industries for n-hexane, mixed hexanes, or cyclohexane in drums, totes, tank truck, or railcar.

NMP is safe to use only when direct skin contact is engineered out. N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (CAS 872-50-4) is a combustible liquid with a 204 °F flash point and low volatility, so vapor risk is modest at room temperature. The serious hazard is dermal: EPA’s risk evaluation ties NMP to reproductive harm and organ damage, primarily through direct skin exposure.

What is NMP and what is it used for?

N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone — also written 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and sold as NMP or M-Pyrol — is a high-boiling polar aprotic solvent. It dissolves an unusually wide range of polymers, resins, and organics, and it does so without evaporating quickly. That combination is why it became the default solvent in applications where a fast-flashing solvent would be useless.

• Lithium-ion battery electrode manufacturing (PVDF binder slurries)
• Semiconductor and electronics photoresist stripping and surface cleaning
• Petrochemical extraction, including butadiene and aromatics recovery
• Engineering polymer production — polyimides, polyamides, polysulfones
• Paint, coating, and adhesive stripping in commercial settings
• Agricultural and pharmaceutical formulation as a carrier solvent

NMP is part of the wider industrial solvent portfolio RightPath Industries distributes, alongside acetone, acetonitrile, toluene, and the glycol ethers.

What are the physical properties of NMP?

The numbers below come from the NOAA CAMEO Chemicals datasheet for N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and drive nearly every handling decision on this page.

Two of these values matter more than the rest. The 204 °F flash point makes NMP a combustible liquid, not a flammable one — it will not ignite at ambient temperature the way acetonitrile or acetone will. And a vapor density of 3.4 means any vapor that does form settles into pits, sumps, and low spots rather than dispersing upward.

Why is skin contact the main NMP hazard?

NMP absorbs readily through intact skin. Because it barely evaporates, a splash stays on the skin and keeps absorbing instead of flashing off. EPA’s December 2020 TSCA risk evaluation, as amended by its December 2022 final revised risk determination, concluded that NMP presents an unreasonable risk of injury to human health — citing miscarriage and reduced fertility, plus liver, kidney, immune system, and nervous system damage, driven primarily by direct dermal contact.

Inhalation is the secondary route. Hot vapors irritate the nose and throat, and spray application raises the inhalation contribution sharply. Ingestion irritates the mouth and stomach. In a fire, NMP can form toxic oxides of nitrogen.

Does NMP have an OSHA exposure limit?

No. NMP has no OSHA permissible exposure limit and no NIOSH recommended exposure limit — it does not appear in the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. The absence of a PEL is not evidence of safety; it reflects the fact that the hazard is dermal rather than airborne, and OSHA’s air contaminant table was never built for that. Employers still owe a hazard assessment and controls under the general duty clause and the hazard communication standard.

Where an airborne benchmark is needed for emergency planning, the Department of Energy Protective Action Criteria above are the usual reference. NMP is also reportable under EPCRA section 313 (the Toxics Release Inventory).

What PPE and engineering controls does NMP require?

Design the job so liquid NMP never touches skin. Enclose transfers, use closed-loop pumping instead of open pouring, and provide local exhaust wherever the material is heated, sprayed, or agitated.

Glove and suit selection matters because barrier materials vary widely. DuPont’s ASTM F739 permeation testing for NMP shows the spread:

Baseline PPE per the CAMEO response recommendations is goggles or a face shield plus chemical-resistant gloves. Verify your specific glove model against its manufacturer’s NMP permeation data — thin nitrile disposables are not adequate for immersion or extended contact. Stage eyewash and quick-drench facilities in every transfer area, and train handlers on the product SDS before first use.

How is NMP regulated by the EPA?

In June 2024, EPA proposed a risk management rule for NMP under TSCA section 6. As of EPA’s most recent update to its NMP risk management page, the rule remains proposed rather than final. The proposal, if finalized, would:

• Establish an NMP Workplace Chemical Protection Program (WCPP) covering nearly all industrial and commercial uses
• Require controls preventing direct dermal contact, effective one year after the rule is finalized
• Limit NMP in consumer glues and adhesives to no more than 45%, with container-size and labeling limits on other consumer products
• Ban commercial use in automotive care, cleaning and degreasing, metal products, and furniture care products
• Ban use in antifreeze, de-icing products, and lubricants, which EPA believes have already ceased

EPA specifically noted that semiconductor and lithium-ion battery manufacturers largely already run the enclosed, automated, cleanroom controls the rule would require. Buyers in paints, adhesives, inks, coatings, and soldering face the larger compliance lift. Track docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0744 for the final rule.

How should NMP be stored, shipped, and spill-controlled?

• Storage: cool, ventilated, away from sparks and open flame. Keep containers closed — NMP is hygroscopic and picks up water that shifts its performance.
• Incompatibilities: NMP is a weak base in the amides and imides reactive group. Keep it away from isocyanates, halogenated organics, peroxides, acidic phenols, epoxides, anhydrides, and acid halides. Strong reducing agents such as hydrides can liberate hydrogen.
• Transport: UN1993, Combustible Liquid, ERG Guide 128. See our guide to DOT hazmat classes for solvents for how that flows through to shipping papers and placarding.
• Spills: eliminate ignition sources, dike to contain, absorb, and bag contaminated absorbent and clothing for disposal. Keep NMP out of sewers and waterways. Do not re-enter until the area is verified clean.
• Labeling: every drum carries a GHS label — here is how to read one.

The same discipline that applies to storing acetone safely applies here, with one inversion: acetone’s danger is its vapor, NMP’s danger is the liquid on your hands.

What grades and sizes of NMP does RightPath stock?

RightPath Industries supplies N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) in the standard industrial formats: 55-gallon drums, IBC totes, and bulk tank truck quantities. Commercial NMP is specified in two broad tiers — technical or industrial grade for extraction, stripping, and general formulation, and high-purity or electronic grade where trace metals and water content are controlled for semiconductor and battery use. Tell us the application and we will quote to the specification that fits it.

Every lot ships with a Safety Data Sheet and a Certificate of Analysis. If you are deciding between drums and totes, our breakdown of drum vs. IBC tote vs. bulk covers the handling and cost trade-offs.

How do you order NMP from RightPath Industries?

RightPath Industries is a Pittsburgh-headquartered chemical distributor carrying more than 8,000 chemicals, shipping nationwide from drums to tank trucks. Send the grade, the volume, the package format, and the delivery ZIP, and you get a same-day, all-in delivered quote — freight and fees included, not bolted on later.

Request bulk pricing on NMP

Frequently asked questions about NMP safety

Is NMP banned in the United States?

No. NMP is not banned in the United States. EPA proposed a TSCA risk management rule in June 2024 that would ban several specific commercial uses — automotive care, cleaning and degreasing, metal products, furniture care, antifreeze, de-icing, and lubricants — but the rule has not been finalized, and industrial uses such as battery and semiconductor manufacturing would continue under a workplace protection program.

Is NMP flammable?

NMP is combustible, not flammable. Its flash point is 204 °F (96 °C), well above ambient temperature, and it ships as UN1993 Combustible Liquid. It still burns once heated above its flash point, and combustion can produce toxic nitrogen oxides.

What is the OSHA exposure limit for NMP?

There is no OSHA permissible exposure limit for NMP and no NIOSH recommended exposure limit. NMP has no NIOSH Pocket Guide entry. Employers should base controls on dermal exposure prevention rather than air sampling alone.

Can NMP be absorbed through the skin?

Yes. Dermal absorption is the primary exposure route of concern for NMP and the basis for EPA’s unreasonable-risk determination. Because NMP evaporates slowly, splashed liquid remains on skin and continues absorbing until it is washed off.

What is NMP used for in lithium-ion batteries?

NMP dissolves polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) binder to form the cathode slurry that is coated onto electrode foil. The solvent is then evaporated and, in most modern plants, recovered and recycled in a closed system.

Authoritative references: the NOAA CAMEO Chemicals datasheet for N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone for physical and reactivity data, EPA’s Risk Management for n-Methylpyrrolidone (NMP) page for regulatory status, and the ILO International Chemical Safety Card 0513. Always work from the current SDS for the specific product you have on site.

How do you store acetone safely?

Store acetone in tightly sealed, original or approved containers inside a cool, dry, well-ventilated flammable-liquids storage area, kept below 25°C (77°F) and away from all ignition sources, heat, sunlight, and oxidizers. Acetone is a Class IB flammable liquid with a flash point of −20°C (−4°F), so vapor control and grounding are essential.

Because acetone (CAS 67-64-1) evaporates fast and its vapors are heavier than air, they can travel along the floor to a distant ignition source and flash back. Safe storage is mostly about controlling those vapors and keeping ignition sources away. Below is the practical detail, drawn from the acetone Safety Data Sheet and OSHA flammable-liquid standards — not a substitute for reading the SDS for your specific lot.

What makes acetone a storage hazard?

Acetone is one of the most useful solvents in industry, but its physical properties make it demanding to store. Its flash point sits far below room temperature, its vapors are denser than air, and it forms flammable mixtures across a wide range of concentrations. The table below summarizes the properties that drive storage decisions.

Figures reflect the RightPath acetone product page and the OSHA/NIOSH Pocket Guide entry for acetone. Always verify against your current SDS.

Where should acetone be stored?

Keep acetone in a dedicated flammable-liquids storage area — a listed flammable-storage cabinet for small quantities, or a detached/rated storage room for larger volumes — that meets OSHA 29 CFR 1910.106. The area should be cool, dry, and mechanically ventilated, with containers kept out of direct sunlight and away from heat.

What temperature should acetone be stored at?

Store acetone below 25°C (77°F) whenever possible and never near heat sources, steam lines, or in unconditioned spaces that can spike in summer. Lower temperatures reduce vapor pressure and evaporative loss, and keep drums from pressurizing.

Do you need a flammable cabinet for acetone?

For most workplace quantities, yes. A listed flammable-storage cabinet is the simplest way to comply with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.106, which caps how much flammable liquid you can keep outside an approved cabinet or storage room. A proper cabinet is double-walled steel with a leak-tight sill, self-closing doors, and vent bungs, and it keeps acetone segregated from ignition sources. Match the cabinet’s rated capacity to how much acetone you actually keep on hand, and never store oxidizers in the same cabinet.

What should acetone be kept away from?

Keep acetone separated from strong oxidizers (nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide, chromic acid, and similar), which can react violently. Keep it away from open flames, sparks, hot surfaces, and static-generating operations. Store it apart from incompatible chemicals rather than co-mingling drums on the same pallet.

Where do you find acetone’s official storage specs?

Always confirm storage temperature, incompatibilities, and handling against the current acetone Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for your specific grade and supplier — the SDS Section 7 (handling and storage) and Section 10 (stability and reactivity) are the authoritative reference. RightPath provides an SDS with every acetone order; do not rely on generic figures for a tightly controlled process.

What PPE and controls do you need to handle acetone?

Use chemical splash goggles and a face shield for pouring, plus gloves made from a material rated for ketones — butyl rubber offers good resistance, while nitrile and latex break through quickly. Work in ventilated areas, bond and ground containers during transfer to prevent static discharge, and keep a Class B fire extinguisher accessible. Use non-sparking tools around open containers.

For spills, eliminate ignition sources first, ventilate, and absorb with a non-combustible absorbent (never sawdust). Consult the SDS and your site emergency plan before responding to anything beyond a minor spill.

How long does acetone last in storage?

Sealed, uncontaminated acetone stored correctly typically remains usable for two or more years, though it slowly absorbs atmospheric moisture once opened because it is fully miscible with water. For analytical and high-purity uses, rotate stock first-in-first-out, keep containers tightly closed, and re-test older lots against your specification before use. Lot control (available from RightPath) makes this traceable.

What grades and sizes of acetone does RightPath stock?

RightPath Industries supplies acetone (CAS 67-64-1) in multiple grades to match your application, from technical and industrial through higher-purity solvent grades. We fill from small packaging up to bulk, with lot control available for tightly specified processes.

See the full acetone product page and browse related solvents in our catalog.

How do you order acetone from RightPath?

Request a quote through the RightPath pricing form, call 888-255-2401, or email sales@rightpathind.com. Tell us the grade, packaging size, and quantity you need, and we will cross-reference your current material, confirm availability, and can sequester and lot-control stock at one of our three U.S. warehouses for just-in-time delivery.

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Frequently asked questions

Is acetone flammable?

Yes. Acetone is a Class IB flammable liquid with a flash point of −20°C (−4°F), well below room temperature. Its vapors form ignitable mixtures in air and can travel to distant ignition sources, so it must be stored away from all heat, sparks, and flames.

Can acetone be stored in plastic containers?

Acetone is compatible with HDPE and metal for short-to-medium term storage but attacks many other plastics (PET, polystyrene, PVC). Use only the original container or a container material explicitly rated for acetone, and keep it tightly sealed.

Does acetone need to be stored in a flammable cabinet?

For most workplace quantities, yes. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.106 limits how much flammable liquid can be stored outside a listed flammable-storage cabinet or approved storage room. Check your quantities against the standard and your local fire code.

What should you not store near acetone?

Do not store acetone near strong oxidizers such as nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide, or chromic acid, or near ignition sources, heat, and direct sunlight. Keep it segregated from incompatible chemicals.

How should an acetone spill be handled?

Remove ignition sources, ventilate the area, and absorb small spills with a non-combustible absorbent. For larger releases, follow the SDS and your site’s emergency response plan and use appropriate PPE.

How do you dispose of acetone?

Waste acetone is a regulated hazardous waste in most cases and must not be poured down the drain. Collect it in a labeled, compatible waste container, keep it away from oxidizers and ignition sources, and route it through a licensed hazardous-waste hauler in line with EPA/RCRA and local rules. Check the SDS Section 13 (disposal) for your material.

Sources & links: Acetone product page · Solvents category · External authority: NIOSH/OSHA Pocket Guide — Acetone