Comments on: Bacterial heating of cereals and meals http://blog.bulk-online.com/pneumatic-conveying/bacterial-heating-of-cereals-and-meals.html A weblog for the worldwide powder and bulk solids handling and processing community. Fri, 07 Oct 2011 14:26:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John Astad http://blog.bulk-online.com/pneumatic-conveying/bacterial-heating-of-cereals-and-meals.html/comment-page-1#comment-25241 John Astad Sun, 31 Aug 2008 15:26:16 +0000 http://blog.bulk-online.com/?p=216#comment-25241 Interesting topic concerning rapeseed. In Canada, a rapeseed variant called Canola is processed for it's rapeseed oil and canola meal animal feed. In April 2008, Associated Proteins, the largest expeller-pressed oilseed crushing plant in the world had an combustible dust explosion and fire in their processing plant. According to news accounts, luckily no injuries, yet over $1,000,000 in damages. In solvent extraction of the canola meal processing, following the pressing, hexane is utilized. Mixed with combustible canola dust, hexane provides a hybrid potentially explosive atmosphere. Which increases the ignition sensitivity and explosion severity Regard for generating hybrids must be taken into account during the process hazard analysis. Especially when processing, storing, or handling products where volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted, such as the non-polar solvent hexane. I've noticed over the past few months that hybrids were involved in several combustible dust incidents. Hopefully in the future plant owners and managers will become more aware of the hybrid topic in preventing and mitigating future incidents Interesting topic concerning rapeseed. In Canada, a rapeseed variant called Canola is processed for it’s rapeseed oil and canola meal animal feed.

In April 2008, Associated Proteins, the largest expeller-pressed oilseed crushing plant in the world had an combustible dust explosion and fire in their processing plant. According to news accounts, luckily no injuries, yet over $1,000,000 in damages.

In solvent extraction of the canola meal processing, following the pressing, hexane is utilized. Mixed with combustible canola dust, hexane provides a hybrid potentially explosive atmosphere. Which increases the ignition sensitivity and explosion severity

Regard for generating hybrids must be taken into account during the process hazard analysis. Especially when processing, storing, or handling products where volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted, such as the non-polar solvent hexane.

I’ve noticed over the past few months that hybrids were involved in several combustible dust incidents. Hopefully in the future plant owners and managers will become more aware of the hybrid topic in preventing and mitigating future incidents

]]> By: Teus Tuinenburg http://blog.bulk-online.com/pneumatic-conveying/bacterial-heating-of-cereals-and-meals.html/comment-page-1#comment-25233 Teus Tuinenburg Sun, 31 Aug 2008 12:03:48 +0000 http://blog.bulk-online.com/?p=216#comment-25233 Dear David, I remember a case ( must have been in the mid 1980\'s), when I visited a rape seed oil extraction plant in Erith ( close to London, UK) The rapeseed derivatives, left over from the extraction process, caught also fire in a silo. I was there to investigate, whether the company I was working for should also store this kind of commodity. As the oil extraction was done with hexane, an explosive evaporative liquid, special attenton was paid to the detction of hexane gas. This hexane cannot be 100% removed from the deravative. When we arrived there a complete fire brigade division was already present, including a fish and chips trailer. My company skipped the idea rather quicly. best regards Teus Dear David,

I remember a case ( must have been in the mid 1980\’s), when I visited a rape seed oil extraction plant in Erith ( close to London, UK)
The rapeseed derivatives, left over from the extraction process, caught also fire in a silo.
I was there to investigate, whether the company I was working for should also store this kind of commodity.
As the oil extraction was done with hexane, an explosive evaporative liquid, special attenton was paid to the detction of hexane gas.
This hexane cannot be 100% removed from the deravative.
When we arrived there a complete fire brigade division was already present, including a fish and chips trailer.
My company skipped the idea rather quicly.

best regards
Teus

]]> By: David Williams http://blog.bulk-online.com/pneumatic-conveying/bacterial-heating-of-cereals-and-meals.html/comment-page-1#comment-25222 David Williams Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:19:32 +0000 http://blog.bulk-online.com/?p=216#comment-25222 Very timely advice. I am currently investigating a fire in an oilseed rape store where it appears spontaneous combustion took place. Although the material was dried before placing into the store, I believe there must have been some water ingress due to storm damage of the building that triggered either germination, bacterial deterioration or enzyme action resulting in serious heating problems. The store staff tried to ventilate the store to reduce the temperature, but eventually had to unload it, at which point the fire broke out. I\'d be very interested to hear of similar occurrences. Very timely advice. I am currently investigating a fire in an oilseed rape store where it appears spontaneous combustion took place. Although the material was dried before placing into the store, I believe there must have been some water ingress due to storm damage of the building that triggered either germination, bacterial deterioration or enzyme action resulting in serious heating problems. The store staff tried to ventilate the store to reduce the temperature, but eventually had to unload it, at which point the fire broke out. I\’d be very interested to hear of similar occurrences.

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