Thermal Hazard Study On Synthetic Process Of Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide

Methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP) is a kind of organic peroxide, and is used widely in many fields. But it is not stable, and there are some thermal explosions occurred in MEKP production process. This study focused on the thermal hazards of MEKP synthetic process, as well as determining the optimal synthetic conditions that are both economic and safe.First of all, the typical synthesis processes of MEKP were determined referring to the relevant literature. Then, reaction calorimetry (RCle) was used to test the thermal behaviors of the synthesis reactions for MEKP under varying dosing rate, temperature or stirring rate. The heat production, adiabatic temperature rise (△Tad) and maximum temperature of synthesis reaction (MTSR) were measured as well. And the yield was determined by HPLC. Samples for thermal analysis and calorimetry were extracted at different stages of synthesis reaction. These samples were studied by dynamic differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and accelerating rate calorimetry (ARC). The relationship between induction period and temperature was obtained based on ARC data, and then T24was calculated. The RCle results show that, Heat of synthetic reaction for MEKP is about74kJ. The highest yield appears on the reaction conditions of15℃,150rpm and with the dosing rate of6.44g-minn1. Dosing rate is the most important factor for heat generation rate. Selecting suitable process temperature and stirring rate helps to improve yields. The synthetic products mainly consist of dimer MEKP. The DSC and ARC results indicate that, MEKP in reaction system is very unstable, it decomposes at about35℃.Safety factor of MEKP was1.98, which shows that MEKP is very hazardous. Synthetic process was evaluated by using risk assessment matrix and stoessel diagram. The result showed that, the risks of synthesis were all not acceptable except Test3and Test6. Based on the analysis, it is founded that,5℃is the acceptable process temperature at dosing rate of6.44g·min-1and stirring rate of150rpm.