Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Flammability characteristics studies on toluene and methanol mixtures with different vapor mixing ratios at 1 atm and 150°C

  • Published:
Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The flammability characteristics of chemical substances are very important for safety considerations in manufacturing processes. This study investigated the mixing of toluene and methanol mixtures with five vapor mixing ratios (100/0, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75 and 0/100 vol.%) at initial conditions of 1 atm and 150°C, and determined the flammability properties to identify their potential fire and explosion hazards. These safety-related parameters included lower explosion limit (LEL), upper explosion limit (UEL), maximum explosion overpressure (P max) and rate of maximum explosion pressure rise ((dP/dt)max); all of them were measured by a 20-L-Apparatus.

In terms of flammability tests for this research, the experimental results indicated that when methanol was increased, which could induce a higher range of flammability, afterwards the situation could be triggered to a dangerous level, such as fire or explosion. Based on the above-mentioned, we could obtain a series of flammability properties and provide inherently safer design in related industrial processes for preventing serious fire and explosion accidents.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. J. A. Davenport and M. J. Pabich, Process Saf. Prog., 17 (1998) 149.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. D. A. Crowl and J. F. Louvar, Chemical Process Safety: Fundamentals with Applications, 2nd Ed., Prentice-Hall, New Jersey, USA 2002, pp. 252–289.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Flammable/Combustible Liquid, NFPA 30, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Quincy, MA, USA 2002.

  4. Standard on Basic Classification of Flammable and Combustible Liquids, NFPA 321, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Quincy, MA, USA 1991.

  5. P. E. Arthur E. Cote and J. L. Linville, Fire Protection Handbook, 17th Ed., National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Quincy, MA, USA 1992 (November).

    Google Scholar 

  6. F. I. Hhan and S. A. Abbasi, Chem. Eng. Res. Des., 75 (1997) 217.

    Google Scholar 

  7. B. Vanderstraeten, D. Tuerlinckx, J. Berghmans, S. Vliegen, E. Van’t Oost and B. Smit, J. Hazard. Mater., 56 (1997) 237.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. M. Goethals, B. Vanderstraeten, J. Berghmans, G. De Smedt, S. Vliegen and E. Van’t Oost, J. Hazard. Mater., 70 (1999) 93.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. C. M. Shu and P. J. Wen, J. Loss Prev. Pro. Ind., 15 (2002) 253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. C. M. Shu, P. J. Wen and R. H. Chang, Thermochim. Acta, 392 (2002) 271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. R. L. Yun, Y. M. Chang, C. H. Lin, K. H. Hu and C. M. Shu, J. Therm. Anal. Cal., 85 (2006) 107.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. R. L. Yun, T. J. Wen, C. H. Lin, Y. M. Chang and C. M. Shu, Process Saf. Environ. Protect., 85 (2007) 251.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. M. V. Kök, J. Therm. Anal. Cal., 88 (2007) 663.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. A. Biedunkiewicz, N. Gordon, J. Straszko and S. Tamir, J. Therm. Anal. Cal., 88 (2007) 717.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Z. Yermiyahu, I. Lapides and S. Yariv, J. Therm. Anal. Cal., 88 (2007) 795.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. S. Y. Jung and H. Yoshida, J. Therm. Anal. Cal., 89 (2007) 681.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. B. Berton, V. Dupray, H. Atmani and G. Coquerel, J. Therm. Anal. Cal., 90 (2007) 325.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. P. Šulcová and M. Trojan, J. Therm. Anal. Cal., 91 (2008) 151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Y. N. Qi, F. Xu, H. J. Ma, L. X. Sun, J. Zhang and T. Jiang, J. Therm. Anal. Cal., 91 (2008) 219.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. M. V. Kök and W. Smykatz-Kloss, J. Therm. Anal. Cal., 91 (2008) 565.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. N. Sh. Lebedeva, W. Zielenkiewicz, E. Utzig, Y. A. Gubarev, V. P. Andreev and Ya. P. Nizhnik, J. Therm. Anal. Cal., 91 (2008) 601.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Y. M. Chang, J. M. Tseng, C. M. Shu and K. H. Hu, Korean J. Chem. Eng., 22 (2005) 803.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Y. M. Chang, K. H. Hu, J. K. Chen and C. M. Shu, J. Therm. Anal. Cal., 83 (2006) 107.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Standard Test Method for Concentration Limits of Flammability of Chemicals (Vapors and Gases), ASTM E 681-04, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), Philadelphia, PA, USA 2004.

  25. Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), Toluene (Methyl Benzene), Industrial Technical Research Institute, Hsinchu, ROC 2008.

  26. Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), Methanol (Methyl Alcohol), Industrial Technical Research Institute, Hsinchu, ROC 2008.

  27. Process Safety News — Laboratory Testing and Consulting for Process Safety Management, Fauske & Associates, Burr Ridge, Illinois, USA, LLC, 2007 (Spring), 14, 2.

  28. Y. M. Chang, Master Thesis, Flammability and Influential Studies for Fire and Explosion Characteristics of 3-Methyl Pyridine/Water Process, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Yunlin, Taiwan, ROC 2006, p. 37.

    Google Scholar 

  29. B. Kühner, Operating Instructions for the 20-L-Apparatus, Switzerland 2008.

  30. J. K. Chen, Master Thesis, Fire and Explosion Hazard Analysis on Flammable Binary Solutions — An Example on Benzene/Methanol Mixtures, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Yunlin, Taiwan, ROC 2004, p. 1.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Guide for Venting of Deflagrations, NFPA 68; National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Quincy, MA, USA 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Teaching Materials, Proceeding of the Safety and Health Research and Study, Center of Environmental Protection and Safety, Ministry of Education-National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC 2004 (July).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Doctoral Program, Graduate School of Engineering Science and Technology, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology (NYUST), 123, University Rd., Sec. 3, Douliou, Yunlin, Taiwan, 64002, Republic of China

    Y. M. Chang, J. -R. Chen & C. -M. Shu

  2. Department of Safety, Health, and Environmental Engineering, NYUST, 123, University Rd., Sec. 3, Douliou, Yunlin, Taiwan, 64002, Republic of China

    J. -C. Lee

  3. Department of Occupational Safety and Health, China Medical University, 91 Hsueh-Shih Rd., Taichung, Taiwan, 40402, Republic of China

    H. -J. Liaw

Authors
  1. Y. M. Chang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. -C. Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. -R. Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. H. -J. Liaw
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. C. -M. Shu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. -M. Shu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chang, Y.M., Lee, J.C., Chen, J.R. et al. Flammability characteristics studies on toluene and methanol mixtures with different vapor mixing ratios at 1 atm and 150°C. J Therm Anal Calorim 93, 183–188 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-007-8873-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-007-8873-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation