Lesson Learned from an Explosion during Chemical Synthesis:Discussion and Preventative Strategies

An explosion accident occurred when synthesizing Zn­(II)-2,9,16,23-tetracarboxyphthalocyanine from trimellitic anhydride, urea, and zinc acetate. In this work, we discuss the direct causes of this explosion by investigating the thermal stability of the reaction with differential scanning calorimetry. Furthermore, four factors leading to explosions in closed systems have been summarized, including vessel damage, system volume reduction, increasing temperature, and gas generation. Finally, we propose technical and managerial measures for preventing explosions in a closed system, aiming to help scientific researchers prevent potential explosion accidents in academic laboratories.