Chemicals being used to prevent further fires at Samut Prakan factory

Today, 2 chemicals are being employed to help prevent more fires from breaking out at the Ming Dih Chemical factory, in Samut Prakan, says the Department of Pollution Control.

The chemicals being used are the F-500 encapsulator agent and Diethyl hydroxylamine, or DEHA. F-500 stops the styrene monomer from igniting and evaporating. DEHA halts polymerisation wherein reacting monomer molecules join to form polymer chains

Authorities have dumped 600 litres of DEHA into the styrene monomer well. 10,000 litres of the F-500 Encapsulation agent has been distributed around that.

Further, the department warns that there is a 1 kilometre radius that surrounds the factory is still under the “tightest control”. Thus, residents are prevented from returning home. The air quality is also reportedly “not as big a concern” as the water quality as chemicals may have already joined the natural water sources.

Reportedly, the Royal Irrigation Department closed the water gates surrounding the factory to stop toxic chemicals from mingling with the local water supply.

18,000 baht has been allocated for households that have been displaced due to the fire that lasted over 25 hours, affected more than 80,000 people and cost 1 firefighter their life.

SOURCE: Thai PBS