Event
- Event ID
- 762
- Quality
- Description
A runaway chemical reaction happened in a reactor containing methanol and a substance to be hydrogenated. A large quantity of hydrogen was released; a balloon containing a borohydride exploded. Two operators are hospitalised, and the workshop roof was blown off.
- Event Initiating system
- Classification of the physical effects
- Hydrogen Release and Ignition
- Nature of the consequences
- Macro-region
- Europe
- Country
- France
- Date
- Component involved
- reactor / oven / furnace / test chamber
- Failure mode
- internal explosion
- Initiating cause
- run-away reaction
- Root causes
- Date entry in HIAD
- 01/01/2020
Facility
- Application
- Chemical industry
- Sub-application
- pharmaceuticals production
- Hydrogen supply chain stage
- All components affected
hydrogenation reactor
- Process temperature range [C]
- unknown
- Process pressure range [MPa]
- unknown
- Location type
- Confined
- Location
- industrial area
- Operational condition
- UNKNOWN
Emergency & Consequences
- Number of fatalities
- 0
- Number of injured persons
- 2
- Post-event summary
Two operators were hospitalized, the roof of the workshop was blown.
In-depth data
- Release type
- gas
- Involved substances (% vol)
- H2,
CH3OH,
B2H6 - Probable IGNITION SOURCE
- Explosion type
References
- Sources categories
- ARIA
- Reference & weblink
ARIA data base event no. 15140
https://www.aria.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/accident/15140/
(accessed October 2025)
