(403d) Fundamental Approaches to Reactive Chemicals Hazard Recognition and Analysis

Over the past half century, Dow’s Reactive Chemicals Program has supported a strong safety culture and a scientifically rigorous, risk-based review process for chemical hazards in the company’s labs and plants. The foundation of Dow’s chemical and process hazard analyses is the data generated by the Reactive Chemicals Group, who leverage measurement science, expertise in chemistry and engineering, and an understanding of Dow’s processes to support safe operation at all scales. In spite of the critical role the Reactive Chemicals discipline plays in safe chemical research and manufacturing, these approaches and techniques are absent from the majority of chemistry and chemical engineering undergraduate curricula. In this talk, we discuss the fundamental principles behind assessing chemical reactivity hazards. We focus on material that could be incorporated into the undergraduate curriculum, such as assessing theoretical and experimental heats of reaction, calorimetric techniques for studying both desired and undesired reactions, and recognizing flammability and dust explosion hazards. Incorporating reactive chemicals testing or modeling into an undergraduate curriculum would satisfy expectations and requirements for safety instruction and better prepare students for careers in both industrial and academic roles.