Thermal release hazard for the decomposition of cumene hydroperoxide in the presence of incompatibles using differential scanning calorimetry, thermal activity monitor III, and thermal imaging camera

Numerous fires and explosions have occurred in chemical industries in Taiwan. In addition to considerable damage to equipment, such accidents cause environmental damage and even social turmoil, and they remind us of the importance of industrial process safety. Many of these accidents involve organic peroxides, which become extremely labile or unstable if they contact acids, bases, or other incompatibles. This study established thermokinetic and thermal safety parameters by differential scanning calorimetry and a thermal activity monitor III for cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) and its incompatibles. For the first time, this study reports the first real-time observation of the reaction of CHP with sulfuric acid by thermal imaging camera, which was used to determine the rate of heat evolution and recognize the degree of hazard present during thermal incidents.