The main objectives of HarsNet are a consequence of the urgent need to introduce hazard assessment techniques for reactive chemicals into the normal working procedures of SMEs. As mentioned previously, most of the expensive and specialized experimental techniques commonly involved in such studies are not usually easily available to such concerns. From this point of view, new guidelines should be produced including the idea of a step by step assessment procedure based on a literature survey, simple predictive calculations and laboratory based testing in readily available equipment. Such procedures should be designed to reveal the occasions on which more sophisticated tests should be performed by external laboratories or specialized experts.
Summary of the objectives for the first year.
Consolidation and operation of the network, HarsBase and HarsWeb. Analysis of all the information collected about experimental techniques and methodologies. Highlighting the equivalencies, discrepancies and possible deficiencies of existing methodologies.
Overview of the technical progress
HarsBase and HarsWeb
The criteria to design HarsBase were obtained from one of the workshops held during the first plenary meeting. The expected contents of HarsBase are:
Existing literature
Stability of products
Grade the reliability of data
Supply information of the sample's origin and experimental conditions
Links to other existing Data Bases
Incidents
Links to other Data Bases
Methods (screening methodologies)
Available instruments and how they must be used
Network of laboratories where more specific advice could be obtained (Virtual Institute)
As a first step, HarsBase has been implemented from the data collected during the exploration phase of HarsNet. Hamburg Universität, HAM, responsible for subtask 1.1, with the collaboration of Institut Químic de Sarrià, IQS, has updated HarsBase, analysing the current state of the art and asking all the consortium for new information. As a result, the current HarsBase contents is
Books and journals
Substances and Properties
Safety Laboratories
Organisations
Scientific Working Groups
Producers of Fine Chemicals
Software
HarsBase is available through HarsWeb, the HarsNet Internet site
http://www.harsnet.iqs.url.es. The main contents of HarsBase will have free access in order to guarantee a wide dissemination of HarsNet results.
Harsguide
HarsGuide is the name of a guideline that should contemplate prevention of runaway in batch and semi-batch reactors (discontinuous process), including some specific aspects for the storage of reactants or products involved in the process (explosion and flammable atmospheres), steps for risk assessment; experimental techniques, including their advantages and disadvantages without giving names and brands; interpretation of results (cited as one of the most important points) and examples. HarsGuide is addressed to experts and it is the base of HarsMeth, addressed to everybody responsible for chemical processes.
The main purposes of HarsGuide are listed below:
HarsGuide could be useful for a laboratory specialised to assess the thermal runaway risk of a process with a step by step guide for any technique
HarsGuide could offer contra-measurements to a runaway scenario
HarsGuide could include key words for special topics for any chapter
HarsGuide include bulk storage as a special topic inside reaction calorimetry
There is an open question: who will up-date HarsGuide after October 2002
After the revision of a first draft all the participants at the meeting accepted that each chapter must follow the index listed below:
Information required
Techniques for getting it
Comparison of techniques
Relative merits
How the data should be used?
Tabulated comparison
HarsRes
The main scope of HarsRes is to propose and to promote new research projects to support the methodologies that HarsNet is dealing. In addition, some of these research topics could be the start point of a project proposal that could be submitted to the V Framework Programme.
During this first year the experts participating in HarsNet identified seventeen suitable research topics. Afterwards, a questionnaire was elaborated in order to select the more appropriate projects to prepare the final proposal. Following the results of the questionnare, four proposals were prepared and sent to the V framework programme of the European Commission. These proposals correspond to the best-qualified projects.
Training stages
A significant number of participants made a 4-days training stage at the place of another participant. The Institute of Safety received in July a chemist from a middle-sized company from Spain to analyse the safety of a chemical process.
Plenary meetings
HarsNet held its first plenary meeting on October 16-17th, in Enschede (NL). Twente University, TU, hosted the meeting and thirty-four participants from twenty-four partners attended it. The two partners that joined HarsNet during the negotiation of the contract, SOLVAY and DSM could not organise their participation in the first meeting.
IQS hosted the second plenary meeting on February 25-26th, in Barcelona (ES). Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chemie de Mulhouse hosted the third plenary meeting on September 2nd-3rd, in Mulhouse (FR).
