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Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) has been used as initiator or medicine in the chemical industries. Several thermal runaway reactions, fires, and explosions have occurred in Taiwan due to its thermal reactivity and explosive properties. A serious accident was analyzed occurring at Fu-Kao Chemical Plant in Taiwan because of runaway reaction in a batch reactor including methyl acrylate (MA), acrylic acid (AA), and BPO. This accident resulted in one death and more than 100 injuries. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry (TG) were used to investigate and calculate the thermal hazard and safety parameter of BPO. Finally, the effects of MA and AA mixed with BPO by DSC/TG were analyzed in this study. The T of BPO was 109 °C in this study. Therefore, the T of BPO/MA was calculated to be 105 °C by DSC. AA and MA were identified as catalyst for thermal decomposition of BPO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The porous, stable zeolite materials impregnated with 1 wt% silver (AgZ) were used as anti-bacterial filters to reduce the bio-aerosols as bacterial counts in the indoor air quality of a medical facility to fulfill the regulation of the Taiwan environmental protection administration. The anti-bacterial efficacies of AgZ reach 99 % after 2 h of air circulation in rooms, and its capacity could be re-generated through heated air at 160 °C. The stability and characteristics of AgZ were analyzed by the transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and zeta-potential. Heat of the endothermic reaction of AgZ was evaluated to be 377-388 J g and was discovered as stable below 300 °C. The analysis results also showed the recovery of second isoelectric points at pH 8.5 of AgZ could represent the ability to adsorb negative charged bio-aerosols as well as anti-bacterial capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and greenhouse gases are the main factors involved in pollution control and global warming. Various treatment methods involving incineration, adsorption, etc., have been employed to reduce VOCs and greenhouse gases concentration in the operating environment and atmosphere. Activated carbon, zeolite, silica gel, and alumina have been broadly used to adsorb pollutants in various industrial applications. Based on the promising effect of adsorption, we analyzed and identified the thermal phenomena of home-made zeolite using various instruments. The endothermic reaction under 100 °C of home-made zeolite was identified as steam adsorption, which is an important discovery. The optimal adsorption temperatures of home-made zeolite have been determined at 200-550 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic peroxides (OPs) and inorganic peroxides (IPs) are usually employed as an initiator for polymerization, a source of free radicals, a hardener, and a linking agent in low density polyethylene (LDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), controlled-rheology polypropylene (CR-PP), and styrene industries. Worldwide, due to their unstably reactive natures, OPs and IPs have caused many serious thermal explosions and runaway reaction incidents. This study was conducted to elucidate its essentially hazardous characteristics. To analyze the runaway behavior of OPs and IPs in the traditional process, thermokinetic parameters including heat of decomposition (Δ H), exothermic onset temperature ( T), self-accelerating decomposition temperature (SADT), time to maximum rate (TMR), critical temperature ( T), etc., were measured by calorimetric approaches involving differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), vent sizing package 2 (VSP2), and calculation method. Safety and health handling information of hazardous materials and toxic substances is noted in material safety data sheets (MSDS) and was applied to analyze in process safety management (PSM) in the chemical industries, but MSDS are not providing important handling indicators concerning the SADT, TMR, T, etc. In view of loss prevention, more useful indicators must be provided in the sheets or guide book. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen (O) or air is widely applied globally to yield cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) in a cumene oxidation tower. In previous studies, CHP has been identified as a thermally hazardous chemical. This study was used to evaluate thermal hazard of CHP in cumene using differential scanning calorimetry and vent sizing package 2 (VSP2). Self-accelerating decomposition temperature (SADT), self-heating rate, exothermic onset temperature ( T), critical temperature ( T), time to maximum rate (TMR), activation energy ( E), etc., were employed to prevent and protect thermal runaway reaction and explosion in the manufacturing process and/or storage area. The reaction order ( n) of CHP was evaluated to be 0.5 in this study. The E was determined to be 122 kJ mol by VSP2. High volume of CHP with 0 rpm of stirring rate by VSP2 was more dangerous than a low one. Control of stirring rate should be a concern in process safety management program. In view of proactive loss prevention, inherently safer handling procedures and storage situations should be maintained in the chemical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]