Thermal hazard analysis of triacetone triperoxide (TATP) by DSC and GC/MS

Thermal degradation of triacetone triperoxide (TATP) was studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). TATP, a potential explosive material, is powerful organic peroxide (OP) that can be synthesized by available chemicals, such as acetone and hydrogen peroxide in the laboratory or industries. The thermokinetic parameters, such as exothermic onset temperature (T0) and heat of decomposition (ΔHd), were determined by DSC tests. The gas products from thermal degradation of TATP were identified using GC/MS technique.In this study, H2O2 was mixed with propanone (acetone) and H2SO4 catalysis that produced TATP. The T0 of TATP was determined to be 40 °C and Ea was calculated to be 65 kJ/mol. A thermal decomposition peak of H2O2 was analyzed by DSC and two thermal decomposition peaks of H2O2/propanone were determined. Therefore, H2O2/propanone mixture was applied to mix acid that was discovered a thermal decomposition peak (as TATP) in this study. According to risk assessment and analysis methodologies, risk assessment of TATP for the environmental and human safety issue was evaluated as 2-level of hazard probability rating (P) and 6-level of severity of consequences ratings (S). Therefore, the result of risk assessment is 12-point and was evaluated as “Undesirable” that should be enforced the effect of control method to reduce the risk.

► We analyzed thermal hazard evaluation of triacetone triperoxide (TATP). ► H2O2, acetone, and acid must be prohibited from being mixed together in wastewater storage drum. ► In this study, the T0 of TATP was determined to be 40 °C and Ea was calculated to be 65 kJ/mol. ► The ΔHd of TATP was determined to be 1300–1500 J/g.