Lower flammability limits of flammable ternary organic mixtures: Synergistic behavior. (July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jia, Zhimeng; Pan, Yong; Yang, Li; Liu, Yinglei; Jiang, Juncheng
• Is Part Of: Journal of loss prevention in the process industries. Volume 66(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-07
• Subjects: Lower flammability limit -- Ternary organic mixture -- Synergistic behavior -- Volume fraction weighting method; Chemical industries -- Safety measures -- Periodicals; 660.2804
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jlp.2020.104173
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-4230

Abstract

Abstract: Organic flammable liquids and their mixtures, which possess high risk of combustion and explosion, are widely used as raw materials and solvents in chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Lower flammability limits (LFL) is one of the most important parameters to characterize the combustion and explosion hazards of combustible gases and liquid vapors. The LFL of various ternary organic mixtures consist of ketone (acetone and butanone), ester (ethyl acetate) and alcohol (ethanol and isopropanol) were tested at 25 °C and atmospheric pressure. The results showed that resulted LFL values of the experiment were always lower than those calculated by volume fraction weighting method when the volume fraction of alcohol was less than 20 vol% but more than 10 vol%. The co-existence of alcohol and ethyl acetate had synergistic effect on reducing the LFL values of ternary organic mixtures and thus increased their explosive risk. The mechanism of synergistic effect was analyzed, and the results showed that the OH· and H· radicals produced by the oxidation decomposition of alcohols and esters accelerated the oxidation process of ternary organic mixtures, which led to the decrease of experimental LFL values and thus corresponding increased of their explosive risk. This study would be expected to provide some guidance for designing or choosing safer and more suitable ternary organic mixtures prior to their applications for engineering. Highlights: The LFL of ternary mixtures composed of ketone, ester and alcohol is measured. The co-existence of alcohol and ester has a synergistic effect on reducing the LFL. The mechanism of synergistic effect affecting the LFL of mixtures is revealed. Some guidance for designing more reliable ternary organic mixtures is provided.