Explosion in a food products plant (Seveso classified)The event occurred in the settling cyclone of a hydrogenation reactor of a starch production unit. The process consists in introducing the starch hydrolysate mixture into the reactor with a catalyst (Raney nickel), under agitation and 50 bar of hydrogen at 130C. The reaction lasts three hours, after which hydrogenated mixture is racked and decanted before purification. The explosion occurred during the discharge of the reactor into the settling cyclone.

The explosion occurred in a plant for the production of butter. It was due to the rupture of a hydrogen tank, during a sterilization process at high temperature (so-called UHT treatment). Two fatalities and 12 injuries. The explosion blew away the roof of the unit and severely damaged the other installation.