Oxidation to spontaneous combustion of pyrophoric iron sulphides in the process industries: A review

In the fossil energy industries, pyrophoric iron sulphides (PISs), the most commonly mentioned pyrophoric material, are widely distributed in the exploitation, transportation, storage, refining equipment and piping of oil and natural gas. When equipment and piping are opened for inspection or maintenance, they may be exposed to air and act as an ignition source by undergoing an exothermic reaction. Accordingly, they become hot or incandescent and can ignite nearby inflammable hydrocarbon-air mixtures.