Reactive chemical explosion

Reactive chemical explosion

Introduction

This paper will be discussing the case of T2 Laboratories, Inc. where an explosion was occurred on December 19, 2007. We will be discussing the case that is present then will analyze the chemical process by which the explosion occurs. Mainly the exothermic process is being discussed and finally safety measures to reduce the risks associated with chemical explosion.

Case Description

T2 Laboratories Inc. of 3043 Faye Road, Jacksonville, Florida, USA, was a facility that specialized in the design and manufacture of specialty chemicals primarily for gasoline additives. The company cites its low environmental impact specialty chemicals intended to replace more toxic and dangerous industrial chemicals.

On December 19, 2007, a massive explosion and fire killed four people in what is considered the U.S.'s most severe industrial accident in nearly three years (Overheated chamber triggered chemical lab blast", 2012). The explosion's force was equivalent to detonating about a ton of TNT and it spread debris up to a mile from the plant. Fourteen people were hospitalized for chemical exposure or their injuries after the blast.

Following the explosion, every hazardous-materials unit in Jacksonville and over 100 firefighters fought the ensuing blaze, which a spokesman termed a "hellish inferno". The blast killed Robert Scott Gallagher; Charles Budds Bolchoz, 48; Karey Renard Henry, 35; and Parrish Lamar Ashley, 36. At the time of his death, Gallagher was Marketing Director for T2 Labs.

T2 Laboratories' chemical reactor ruptured, according to a preliminary investigation by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board. The investigators reported their belief that the reactor ruptured during the production of a gasoline additive. The explosion occurred in a 2500 gallon batch reactor during production of methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl. The reactor cooling system, which lacked backups, failed; this led to a thermal runaway.

Discussion Analysis

Chemical explosions may be either decomposition or combination reactions. In either case, the reaction is exothermic and the energy released by the reaction is partially converted to work. Decomposition reactions occur in materials such as trinitrotoluene (TNT) and nitroglycerine (Martend, 2010). The molecules of these materials contain oxygen. When the molecule decomposes, the products are combustion gases, which are produced at high temperatures. The volume of the gases is much larger than the volume of the explosive, generating high pressures at the reaction zone. The rapid expansion of the gases forms the shock wave that provides the explosive effect. Even some hydrocarbons that have no oxygen in their molecules, such as acetylene, can decompose explosively.

Combination reactions require that two or more components react together exothermically to produce hot gases. Some examples are ammonium nitrate and fuel oil (ANFO), gunpowder (potassium nitrate, carbon, and sulfur), and fireworks. In these explosions, the reactants that make up the explosive must be carefully mixed to assure that the reaction will continue (Dushyant, 2008). The damage caused by an explosion depends partly on how fast the explosive reaction occurs. Decomposition reactions generally occur much faster than combination reactions. They are more likely to be used for military applications because they are more ...