Lessons Learned from Laboratory Vacuum Pump Exhaust Explosion: Discussion and Preventative Strategies

Abstract

Here, we wish to report an explosion which occurred in an organic synthesis laboratory during an attempted evaporation of solvent via rotary evaporation. The explosion, which occurred inside of a vacuum pump cabinet, resulted in a fire and damages to the laboratory but no injuries. This “Lessons-Learned” article describes the direct cause of the event as determined by the Office of Environmental Health and Radiation Safety and proposes casual factors that should be considered to prevent this incident from occurring in other laboratories.