Explosion at a Rubber Factory, Caused by Accidental Hydrolysis of Chemicals (781)

At a rubber factory, an explosion occurred inside a lubricant container filled with 18 tonnes of tri-(nonylphenyl) phosphite (TNPP or TNPA). This tank was typically stirred and maintained at 45C. However, the heating circuit routed to the container had broken down 7 days earlier. With the polluted TNPP scheduled for disposal, the accident occurred during a sawing operation to remove the walkway interfering with the manhole opening.