Abstract
In 2020, a significant accident occurred at a chemical plant in Seo-gu, Incheon, involving a tank explosion during the recovery of a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide in a tank lorry. This accident caused multiple casualties and extensive property damage. This study investigated the cause of the chemical explosion through a reproduction experiment (reactivity and temperature change) and a component analysis of the field samples. The results revealed a runaway reaction approximately 17 minutes after mixing hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide, resulting in a temperature increase to 85 °C. Component analysis using NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) and pH analysis confirmed the similarity between the components of the product after the chemical reaction and the sample collected on site. Mechanical and electrical inspections of the exploded tank lorry exhibited a typical brittle fracture shape in the broken steel plate, indicating a structural failure. Electrical assessment ruled out the possibility of explosion due to static electricity and electrical singularities. We infer that the tank lorry explosion occurred due to the accelerated decomposition reaction caused by the positive catalytic action of sodium hydroxide mixed with hydrogen peroxide, which rapidly increased pressure within the tank.
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