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[David2346]

I need a citation for information presented at

http://www.cheresour...-concentration/

regarding using LEL and stoichiometric ratios for estimating the oxygen concentration below which combustion cannot take place. On this page Diederik Zwart states the information below but no citation is given. Does anybody have a citation for this?

You can estimate the Limiting Oxygen Concentration (LOC) i.e. the oxygen concentration below which no combustion is possible. The calculation involves the LEL of the fuel and the stoichiometric ratio fuel/oxygen for complete combustion:
y fuel + x O2 -> a CO2 + b H2O
LEL = Z% v/v fuel in air
LOC = Z*x/y [% v/v O2 in Nitrogen]
This gives a slightly more conservative value than experimentally determined LOC's, so you'll be on the safe side. Normally if you stay below 10% O2, you'll be OK for most chemicals, except hydrogen (LOC = 4%).
I hope this helps,
Diederik Zwart