Case study on the catastrophic explosion of a chemical plant for production of m-phenylenediamine

On March 21, in Xiangshui County, Yancheng city, China, a catastrophic explosion occurred at Tianjiayi Chemical Co., Ltd. that caused 78 deaths and injured more than 617 individuals, with a property loss of as much as US$ 100 million. An explosion crater with a diameter of 98 m was generated. An extensive consequence analysis based on the crater size and physical effects for the estimation of the quantity of exploded dinitrobenzene (DNB) was performed. By using the position recorded in the satellite photo and the layout of the plant, the crater site was determined to be located near a warehouse where dinitrobenzene was stored. From the scaling law associating the TNT equivalent with crater diameter, the TNT equivalent of exploded ditrobenzene was determined to be approximately 708 tons. Based on the results of the consequence analysis performed by three methodologies, it can be concluded that the Tianjiayi Chemical Co. warehouse not only stored a substantially large quantity of dinitrobenzene but was also located too close to adjacent structures without an adequate separation distance. Judging by the effect of explosive blast on personnel, a fatality radius was determined to be about 400 m from the explosion center.     

Thermal hazard analysis of 1-((cyano-1-methylethyl) azo) formamide and effect of incompatible substances on its thermal decomposition

1-((cyano-1-methylethyl) azo) formamide (CABN) is an azo compound that exhibits high thermal sensitivity and self-reactivity. Because of incorrect operation, incompatible substances and other dangerous conditions, thermal explosion accidents may occur during the manufacturing, storage, and transportation of CABN. The pyrolysis characteristics of CABN and its mixture for various heating rates were assessed using differential scanning calorimetry. The results showed that incompatible substances increased the risk of CABN. Moreover, the thermal runaway of CABN under an adiabatic condition was studied using an adiabatic rate calorimeter to obtain the parameters under adiabatic condition. Based on the experimental data, the kinetic parameters of CABN and its mixtures were obtained. In addition, a thermal decomposition kinetic model of CABN was created using Thermal Safety Series. All experiments have shown that the conditions and parameters of CABN must be strictly controlled.     

Evaluation of thermal properties and process hazard of three ionic liquids through thermodynamic calculations and equilibrium methods

Industrial and new energy applications of ionic liquids (ILs) may have to be used at high temperatures conditions, such as in batteries and fuel applications, which may cause thermal hazards. However, there are few studies on the thermal hazards of ILs. To ensure the thermal safety of ILs processes, three commonly used ILs were selected for analysis: 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium nitrate ([Bmim]NO₃), 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium nitrate ([Bmmim]NO₃), and 1,3-dimethylimidazolium nitrate ([Mmim]NO₃). The process hazards under adiabatic conditions demonstrated that [Bmmim]NO₃ and [Mmim]NO₃ have extensive explosion hazards. The self-reaction characteristics determined by the isothermal test indicated that the ILs are nth reactions, and the thermal decomposition features were also determined by thermogravimetric analysis. The data were obtained with a nonlinear thermodynamic model and used to establish the basic thermal hazards of the three ILs. In addition, based on the thermal equilibrium theory, the critical safety parameters can be inferred. The effects of heat transfer in 25.0 g and 50.0 g containers were discussed. The results show that [Mmim]NO₃ will produce a thermal runaway reaction at a lower temperature (<100 °C) and has the shortest reaction time (<1 day), which means [Mmim]NO₃ is considered to be the most hazardous material among the three ILs studied.     

基于Landsat-8数据和劈窗算法的地表温度反演及城市热岛效应研究

陆地表面温度(Land Surface Temperature,LST)是地表能量平衡组分中的一个重要参数。随着卫星遥感技术的快速发展,遥感反演成为获取区域LST的一个重要手段。目前已有学者提出多种基于遥感数据反演LST的算法,其中劈窗算法被证明是一种精度较高的算法。基于Landsat-8卫星30 m空间分辨率的陆地成像仪(OLI)数据和100 m分辨率的热红外传感器(TIRS)数据,采用劈窗算法计算了无锡地区的LST,并采用地面实测水温数据和同步的MODIS温度产品对Landsat-8的计算结果进行了验证和对比分析。结果表明:基于Landsat-8数据和劈窗算法获取的LST精度较高,误差1K。在计算的LST结果基础上,进一步提取了热场变异指数来分析城市热岛空间分布特征,给出了城市热岛效应的定量化描述,并就不同地表覆盖类型对热岛效应的影响进行了分析。     

热脱附-GC/MS法测定垃圾填埋场周围空气中氯代烃

采用热脱附-冷阱捕集-GC/MS法测定垃圾填埋场周围空气中24种氯代烃,通过试验优化并确定热脱附质谱的最佳处理条件。方法在5.00 mg/L～100 mg/L范围内线性良好,24种氯代烃的方法检出限为0.060μg/m~3～0.200μg/m~3,测定下限为0.240μg/m~3～0.800μg/m~3。空白加标回收率为91.8%～110%,6次测定结果的RSD均5%。实际样品测定结果为0.112 mg/m~3～0.412 mg/m~3,表明离垃圾填埋场最近的居民区环境中氯代烃为未检出或痕量分布,对生命体危害极低。     

The behavior of PCDD and PCDF during thermal treatment of waste incineration ash

The polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF) content of three fly ash samples with different elemental compositions from different municipal waste incinerators were analyzed before and after thermal treatment at 300 °C or 500 °C. Gas phase emissions during the treatments were also collected and analyzed. Substantial reductions in the total PCCD/F content of the ashes were observed after treatment at 500 °C, seemingly due to degradation rather than dechlorination. Treatment at 300 °C resulted in an increase in the PCDD/F content of the three ashes. Initial concentration of PCDD/F in the untreated ashes did not reflect the outcome of the treatment at the different temperatures. In addition, the composition of the ash was found to influence the rate of decomposition and formation of PCDD and PCDF during thermal treatment; the results showed that Cu, Fe, Ca and S play important roles in these processes.     

A comparison between superfine magnesium hydroxide powders and commercial dry powders on fire suppression effectiveness

The effectiveness of superfine magnesium hydroxide powders and commercial dry powder in fire suppression were compared in a laboratory-scale, immovable fire suppression apparatus. The investigation focused on their suppression effectiveness under various pressures. It likewise studied the relationship between the powders’ surface structures and their effectiveness on fire suppression. The microcosmic structure of the powders was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), while the Thermal Gravity Analysis (TGA) technique was used to analyze the thermal behavior of the superfine magnesium hydroxide powders. By analyzing the results, it could be concluded that the pressure, the particle size, and the microcosmic structure of the powders’ surface mainly decide the capability of the powders to extinguish the fire. Comparing this with commercial dry powders, superfine magnesium hydroxide powders extinguished the fire in less than 10 s.     

Evidence of hydrocarbon contamination from the Burgan oil field, Kuwait: interpretations from thermal remote sensing data

The paper presents the application of thermal remote sensing for mapping hydrocarbon polluted sites. This has been achieved by mono-window algorithm for land surface temperature (LST) measurements, using multi-date band 6 data of Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM). The emissivity, transmittance and mean atmospheric temperature were used as critical factors to estimate LST. The changes in the surface emissivity due to oil pollution alter the apparent temperature, which was used as a recognition element to map out oil polluted surfaces. The LST contrast was successfully used to map spatial distribution of hydrocarbon pollution in the Burgan Oil field area of Kuwait. The methodology can be positively used to detect waste dumping, oil spills in oceans and ports, besides environmental management of oil pollution at or near the land surface.     

Profiling the spatial concentration of allethrin and piperonyl butoxide using passive sorptive sampling and thermal desorption capillary GC-MS

Spatial concentration distribution of a chemical in an indoor environment is an important factor in the evaluation of chemical nuisances. However, straightforward techniques for the determination of this distribution are not very common and usually limited in their application. Sorptive sampling using polydimethylsiloxane-coated stir bars and the combination of active and diffusive sampling were shown to allow uncomplicated spatial concentration profiling of multiple compounds in an indoor environment. The validity of the approach was demonstrated in the analysis of the spatial concentration distribution of a pyrethroid insecticide in a common bedroom. The relative concentrations of allethrin and piperonyl butoxide were profiled throughout the room upon the application of an insecticide vaporizer.     

Effects of long-term soil amendment with sewage sludges on soil humic acid thermal and molecular properties

Sewage sludges are frequently used as soil amendments due to their high contents of organic matter and nutrients, particularly N and P. However, their effects upon the chemistry of soil humic acids, one of the main components of the soil organic matter, need to be more deeply studied in order to understand the relation between organic matter structure and beneficial soil properties. Two sewage sludges subjected to different types of pre-treatment (composted and thermally dried) with very different chemical compositions were applied for three consecutive years to an agricultural soil under long-term field study. Thermal analysis (TG–DTG–DTA) and solid-state ¹³C NMR spectroscopy were used to compare molecular and structural properties of humic acids isolated from sewage sludges, and to determine changes in amended soils. Thermally dried sewage sludge humic acids showed an important presence of alkyl and O/N-alkyl compounds (70%) while composted sludge humic acids comprised 50% aromatic and carbonyl carbon. In spite of important differences in the initial chemical and thermal properties of the two types of sewage sludges, the chemical and thermal properties of the soil humic acids were quite similar to one another after 3 years of amendment. Long-term application of both sewage sludges resulted in 80–90% enrichment in alkyl carbon and organic nitrogen contents of the soil humic acid fraction.