What are the hazard factors in coal tar processing projects?
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A new 150,000-ton coal tar processing project has been launched; it involves no asphalt, uses atmospheric distillation to process carbon black oil, and also includes naphthalene distillation. Sulfuric acid washing. What are the safety considerations within the entire production facility? It is said that there are also areas prone to fire and explosion (tank areas). Since I haven’t been exposed to this before, what kinds of personal and equipment accidents might occur? Is it dangerous? How should I pay attention? I hope everyone will be kind enough to share their insights. Thank you!
Will there be no asphalt after tar processing? Here, you should pay attention to those things related to flammable and explosive hazardous chemicals as well as special equipment. Of course, job safety also needs to be taken into account during the construction process.
The original poster didn’t explain why there is no asphalt. I think it is likely that after atmospheric distillation, the light components are recovered, naphthalene is recovered, and the product from the bottom of the distillation tower is used to produce carbon black oil. As for the safety aspects mentioned by the original poster, they mainly include fire and explosion prevention, burns from high temperatures, corrosion, poisoning, and occupational hazards. Based on the poster’s description, the hazardous substances mainly include tar, distilled light oil, anthracene oil, industrial naphthalene, phenol, and alkaline solutions (used for washing phenol), as well as sulfuric acid (used to decompose sodium phenoxide). The main sources of hazard are the tar storage area (fire), the finished product storage area (fire, explosion, poisoning), the atmospheric distillation units (fire, explosion, poisoning, severe heat burns), and the phenol and naphthalene processing units (acid and alkali corrosion, etc.)
Reports on this topic have been prepared; it involves simple distillation. Attention must be paid to fire and explosion risks, as well as to the method of heating. If heat transfer oil is used, proper fire safety distances need to be considered, in addition to the issue of poisoning.
Thank you all for your answers. We use simple atmospheric distillation for dehydration and the separation of light oils; in the main tower, phenol is used to wash out naphthalene, with the goal of obtaining carbon black oil, without extracting asphalt for now. I’m new to this type of device, so I’m basically unaware of the dangers it poses. I would appreciate some advice from those with experience in order to improve my safety awareness.
Production is much easier without asphalt; about 80% of it is used to produce carbon black oil, while the processing of other light oils, such as naphtha, phenol oil, washing oil, and industrial naphthalene, is relatively simple. Light oil and phenol oils contain a high proportion of light components, have a low flash point, and are therefore more hazardous