Introduction Flashbacks from Thermal Oxidizers cost the Chemical Process Industries millions of dollars in equipment damage and plant down time. Why does this happen? Is it the manufacturers of the thermal oxidizers fault? It is normally not the manufacturers fault. The thermal oxidizers operating manual normally says that the client must follow NFPA guidelines. NFPA … [Read more...]
Continuous Flow Chemistry for the Pharmaceutical Industry
Although the chemical industry has used continuous flow process plants for years, it is relatively new to the pharmaceutical industry. With skyrocketing costs for batch small molecule pharmaceutical plants reaching over $1,000 per square foot1. Continuous Flow Chemistry provides a lower installed cost alternative. Besides installed cost there are many other benefits as you can … [Read more...]
Explosion Investigations with the Three Column Method – Part 3 of 3 in a Series on Explosions
Explosion Investigations Corporations spend enormous amounts of money on explosion investigations. Yet experienced investigators know there are only 9 ignition sources. For an actual asphalt tank fire, the analysis is shown below and whether or not this ignition source was ruled out. Column 1 is labeled: What facts do we know about the incident Column 2 is labeled: What … [Read more...]
The Chemistry of Slime
Introduction Originally, Slime was a toy product manufactured by Mattel, sold in a plastic trash can and introduced in February 1976. It consisted of a non-toxic viscous, squishy and oozy green or other color material made primarily from guar gum. Today, children everywhere have discovered how to make their own slime by using Elmer's glue. So … [Read more...]
Dust Flammability – Part 2 of 3 in a Series on Explosions
Dust Flammability In this second part in our Series on Explosions and Flammability we will discuss Dust Flammability. The dust pentagon below shows that there are five (5) elements necessary for a dust deflagration to occur. Dust Flammability Pentagon Combustible dust Oxidant Ignition source Dispersion of dust Confinement of dust Although confinement is … [Read more...]