Thermal runaway hazards of cumene hydroperoxide with contaminants

Cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) has been used in producing phenol and acetone by catalytic cleavage and as an initiator in polymerization. However, many se vere fires and explosions have occurred because of its thermal instability and incompatibility,In fact, CHP has been given a hazard classification of flammable type or Class III by the National Fire Protection Association (NF PA). To date, however, its reactive and incompatible hazards have not yet b een-clearly identified. In this study, the thermal decomposition and runawa y behaviors of CHP with about 1 wt % incompatibilities such as H2SO4, KCI, NaOH KOH, Fe2O3, FeCl3, and Fe-2(SO4)(3) were analyzed by DSC thermal analy sis and VSP2 adiabatic calorimetry. The thermokinetic data obtained via cal orimetry, such as onset temperature, heat of decomposition, adiabatic tempe rature rise, and self-heat rate, were also compared with those df CHP in cu mene. Hydroxide ion and ferric ion were found to be quite incompatible with CHP. The worst case of thermal runaway of CHP was observed when it was mix ed with hydroxides tin the production or storage of CHP). The adiabatic sel f-heat rate,of 15 wt % CHP was 9 degreesC min(-1) in VSP2, which increased quite dramatically to a value of 100 degreesC min(-1). This study reveals t hat thermal hazards of CHP influenced by incompatibilities should not be ov erlooked. The different thermokinetic data affected by the incompatibilitie s are the key issues for ERS (Emergency Relief System) design in,CHP-relate d processes using DIERS technology. The decomposition pathway of CHP in var ious impurities was proposed by use of chromatography in product analyses.